Over the weekend, 10 million Americans across 11 states were under winter weather alerts. Yep, it’s that time of year already.
If your weather “forecasts” — quotation marks intentional — feel useless, I’ve got something you should know: Weather apps pull information from different data networks, and those networks vary in quality as reported by orgs like ForecastAdvisor. Some even vary by region of the U.S. I’ll show you the best to use depending on where you live.
A change in the weather
If you do any searching online about weather apps, you’ll still see “Global Weather Corporation” recommended as one of the most accurate weather forecasts, especially for the West Coast. It’s true, but GWC isn’t available to everyday folks like us anymore. Those services have been bundled off to automotive and data companies so only they can access them — womp womp.
The Weather Channel
Who’s really surprised this long-term player — also known as weather.com — is still at the top of the game when it comes to accuracy? Several apps pull their info from Weather Channel data, so you’ve got some choices other than The Weather Channel app.
Weather Underground is known for its hyper-local weather data and unique network of personal weather stations. You can also check out Storm Radar or the Google Weather app, which pulls data from The Weather Channel.
Best for: The South and Midwest, including in snowstorm-prone states like the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Vermont.
Weather in Microsoft Start
Microsoft, a weather guru? Microsoft Start has a proprietary weather app named the most accurate global forecast provider. Microsoft commissioned the study, so take it with a grain of salt. The trick is a mix of pulling accurate data and using Microsoft AI powers to get the best predictions. Use it here or download the Start app.
Best for: East Coast states and, for you snowbirds, Hawaii.
Weather.gov
I’ve gotta be honest. Weather.gov, aka the National Weather Service, isn’t pretty. But this ugly duckling is reliable and pulls information from many sources to provide an excellent U.S. weather map. If you don’t need a slick interface, you may prefer the deeper dive into forecast maps and radar results.
Customize results by entering your ZIP code and saving that profile and it’ll always show local data. Good option if you don’t want to download an app.
Best for: Clunky but suitable for all locations.
AccuWeather
AccuWeather’s app lets you parse weather data however you please. It has won awards from the World Meteorological Organization for best user interface. Plus, it experiments with RealFeel temps that factor in wind chill to show you how cold kids and pets will feel. It’s also got a two-hour MinuteCast forecast. The downside: The app is a little ad-heavy.
Best for: Midwest states.
