Thanks to climate change weather is getting harder to predict, and weather events are getting more severe. Most folks, myself included, simply look outside to find out what the weather’s going to be. But what do you do if you want to prep for a weather event?
Just in time for Hurricane Helene we present to you the 2024 round up of the most popular and capable weather apps.
Warning
Remember: all weather apps are only as good as their models. Weather geeks have been complaining about NOAA’s models for years, and the better models are coming from private industry. Please keep this in mind when using a predictive application.
Hurricane Helene is about to pound Florida and the gulf coast. If the Pensacola News Journal is going to suggest an app to look out for, My Hurricane Tracker is one you should download too. I downloaded it and played with it myself, and I admit it’s a pretty cool app if you want to geek out on satellite radar and weather metrics. You’ll get storm warnings after sharing your location with the app and notifications, The only downside to this app is that it uses weather data from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Weather nerds say NOAA is behind in updating their weather models in this new era of climate change.
Free for iOS and Android. Paying for the app will remove ads.
AccuWeather is another weather nerd fan favorite. AccuWeather provides videos, radar, and ReelFeel technology giving you accurate personable information about your local forecast. The app also has MinuteCast which gives you minute-by-minute alerts which can come in handy during hurricane season. There’s plenty of free features, but you’ll need to pay some money for Lock Screen widgets and an ad-free experience.
$.3.99 per month or $24.99 per year for iOS and Android.
Would you like your weather app to speak to you? The app features weather alerts and notices without using jargon. From a real user:
The app tells you the weather by cussing at you, and I like it because I feel like most weather apps are really boring and stale, and I prefer for my weather news to be a little quirky,
Rukmini Kalamangalam, Community Organizer
This app helps prepare you for the elements. It’ll prompt you to throw on a coat, cuss at you, or tell you to go back to bed if the weather demands it.
Free, but has In-App purchases for iOS and Android.
If you want a tool real meteorologists use, then take a look at RadarScope. Anthony Torres, a meteorologist and the director of science at Currently, a weather service, uses RadarScope because it gives users access to realtime satellite data. This gives you the ability to see precipitation and clouds the way the pros see it. In a pinch, Gary Szatkowski, former meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service and current Philadelphia forecaster at Currently, also uses RadarScope.
Last but not least, is the #1 app in the Apple App Store, Zoom Earth. It is a real time weather tracker. The app features satellite footage and allows you to playback footage from earlier to current time. Different modes show you different data, and if you want watch realtime weather analytics there’s plenty here to geek out on. It’s lean on videos and alerts, but makes a great app for tracking the weather. These are screenshots from me playing with the app in preparation for First News 570.
Free, but with In-App purchases to remove ads for iOS and Android.
Be Careful!
The east coast will be getting some severe weather this weekend. Many Florida corporate offices are closing down on Thursday in preparation for dramatic weather. If you don’t have to go out, don’t. If you must go, please use good judgment. The Internet is awash with videos showing cars being swept away.
Be safe out there. Wear a jacket.
Leave a Reply