HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Sept. 27, 2011) - A system that uses data from satellites to predict "pop up" thunderstorms has been incorporated into the weather forecasting software used to plan thousands of airline and commercial airplane flights in the U.S. every day. Developed at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, the Satellite Convection AnalySis & Tracking (SATCAST) system uses data from NOAA's GOES East weather satellite to monitor cumulus clouds as they develop, move and grow before they become thunderstorms. Using satellite data over the eastern two-thirds of the United States, SATCAST works with other forecast technology to give 15-minute to two-hour warnings of convective thunderstorms before they develop.