11 iPhone, Android Weather Apps For Rain Or Shine
Need an umbrella? Before you rush out the door, check the forecast with one of these mobile weather apps for iOS or Android.
![](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt69509c9116440be8/blt3c645f80215d39b3/64cb45d485f09c7c1a11ec52/Screen-Shot-2015-11-10-at-10.44.19-AM.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
The Starks said it best: Winter is coming.
They didn't need smartphones for their forecast, of course, but those of us outside Winterfell (or entirely unfamiliar with Game of Thrones) are different.
Our mobile devices, in addition to acting as secretaries, navigators, and personal trainers, are also meteorologists. Instead of opening the window, most of us check our smartphones for an accurate estimate of the day's temperature and precipitation.
Weather apps may not be the most exciting apps on the market, but they are among the most popular and useful. Most are free of charge and provide all the weather data you need: temperature and precipitation, and hourly and weekly forecasts.
[Cool devices, hefty prices: 8 smartphones you will never own.]
Most smartphones come with a built-in weather app, but chances are, you've perused your app store for a more advanced or accurate tool. Like many apps, weather-prediction tools have improved with the advancement of new technology.
Some modern weather apps provide basic forecast data on an aesthetically pleasing background, or alongside a character appropriately dressed for the outdoors. Others provide radar and satellite images with detailed information on air pressure, humidity, and wind speed -- sometimes for a small price.
If the default weather app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone isn't cutting it, you may be due for an upgrade. Check out our picks for handy weather apps that will help you prepare to take on the day.
Do you already use one of these apps? Did we miss any? Feel free to share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments.
The data powering Weather Underground comes from more than 135,000 personal weather stations, all of which supply localized data on current conditions and forecast. Weather Underground provides temperature, "feels like," humidity, wind speed and direction, visibility, pressure, rain accumulation, and humidity.
An interactive map displays radar, heat maps, weather stations, and rain accumulation. You can also access crowd reports, where users can report weather conditions as they roll in.
Additional information can be found via "tiles" within the app. A Health tile, for example, informs users of UV risk, flu outbreaks, and air quality. The Sunrise/Sunset tile displays precise daylight hours, and the Hurricane and Tropical Storm tile provides insight into storm patterns and movement across the globe.
AccuWeather, a popular go-to weather app, packs detailed information on current and predicted weather into a mobile tool. The app provides access to weather data including temperature, "feels like," high and low for the day, and sunrise and sunset times. It also provides trending weather videos, severe weather alerts, and weather animations depicting current conditions and forecasts for the upcoming 72 hours and 15 days.
Two features specific to AccuWeather, AccUcast and MinuteCast, help provide localized weather information. AccUcast is a real-time crowdsourced map with weather conditions submitted by users. MinuteCast provides a minute-by-minute forecast specific to your GPS location for a two-hour time period.
You can enable widgets in the Notification Center for AccuWeather MinuteCast to access a summary of the day's weather without having to enter the app.
Stay current on severe weather alerts with this app that provides weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and push notifications when weather alerts are issued for upcoming snowstorms, tornadoes, floods, etc.
The app emphasizes radar. High-definition radar and satellite images show precipitation and cloud cover and a rain map displays a 24-hour rain forecast. According to iTunes, this is the only app that displays all National Weather Service watches and warnings on a map. Each is interactive, so you can tap it for a full description.
You can access all your usual weather data and bookmark locations within the app, but you also have the option to add a Notification Center widget for access to temperature and the day's forecast without having to open the app.
NOAA Hi-Def Radar Pro is available for $1.99 on iOS and $2.99 for Android.
WeatherBug provides weather forecasts in real-time, with up-to-date information on current, hourly, and 10-day forecasts. An interactive map lets you view weather through multiple layers: Doppler radar, humidity, lightning, wind speed, and pressure.
The app also offers live weather cams, which provide images of the weather from more than 2,000 weather cameras across the US. Live traffic cameras provide insight into driving conditions so you can check the roads before you leave.
Additional features include a section on weather news, a hurricane center with real-time information on current and past hurricanes, and a lightning alert. The app also provides information on how weather will affect the way you use heating and cooling in your home, and how costs will change as a result.
Weather Puppy couples your forecast with a picture of a puppy, which changes according to the weather and time of day. There's nothing like a cute dog to soften the blow of a terrible forecast, right?
Puppies aside, this is a legitimately informative weather app. Weather Puppy's home screen displays an overview of temperature and precipitation. Swipe up to reveal more detailed data including humidity, UV index, hourly and ten-day forecasts, radar, and times of sunrise and sunset.
A basic version of the app is available for free. Upgrading to the paid version eliminates ads and enables you to view a specific kind of dog or upload pictures of your own pup. If you fancy yourself more of a cat person, the Weather Kitty might better suit your tastes.
Simple forecast data gets a visually appealing interface. Solar is a minimalist weather app that displays the date, time, temperature, and precipitation against a gradient background that reflects current conditions. You can swipe down to view a three-day forecast, swipe up to see hourly changes in data, and bookmark locations for easier access to local weather.
Like Solar, Fresh Air is a minimalist app with an aesthetically pleasing design. The difference is, this shows more detailed information. The app pulls data from Forecast.io and displays temperature, wind speed, precipitation, storm alerts, and a seven-day forecast.
Handy features include severe weather warnings and calendar integration, so you can import calendar entries to view weather for specific dates.
Fresh Air is available on iOS for free.
MyRadar is an animated weather radar app that pulls HD weather data from NOAA (the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). You can zoom in and scroll across the map to see if clouds or precipitation are headed your way.
The app also provides data on temperatures across the country, local weather photos, and projections and details of storm paths. If you plan on traveling, you can overlay the flight plan of a particular plane onto the map to see if you'll be flying through clear skies.
Dark Sky is a handy tool for accessing accurate, last-minute weather forecasts. The app provides minute-by-minute predictions for the upcoming hour and hourly predictions for the upcoming week.
If you find yourself frequently heading outside, you can create custom notifications to receive updated information on temperature, precipitation, and wind for a 24-hour time span. The app also lets you opt into severe weather alerts or put a Dark Sky widget in the Notification Center so you can access relevant weather data without unlocking your device.
Dark Sky is available for $3.99 on iOS.
The days are getting shorter, temperatures are falling, and predictions of snowfall are on the horizon. The app provides NOAA data specifically related to winter weather conditions.
NOAA Snow Forecast contains a map that displays current weather, hourly snowfall predictions over a two-day period, and warning boxes with severe weather alerts. You can bookmark locations for quick access.
NOAA Snow Forecast is available for $1.99 on iOS and Android.
If you're not interested in radar maps, but you like a good joke, check out Carrot Weather. The app pulls weather data from Forecast.io and combines it with funny animation and sarcastic humor. Its main screen shows a summary of current local weather and rain predictions. Swiping pulls up more detailed information like a seven-day forecast, humidity, and times for sunrise and sunset.
Carrot weather is available for $3.99 on iOS.
If you're not interested in radar maps, but you like a good joke, check out Carrot Weather. The app pulls weather data from Forecast.io and combines it with funny animation and sarcastic humor. Its main screen shows a summary of current local weather and rain predictions. Swiping pulls up more detailed information like a seven-day forecast, humidity, and times for sunrise and sunset.
Carrot weather is available for $3.99 on iOS.
-
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like