Weather is arguably one of the most important factors affecting your driving routes, so it’s important to have the most up-to-date forecast at your fingertips. But finding the best weather app can be tricky since there are so many to choose from. Here are five weather apps that we think are a cloud above the rest.
The Weather Channel
Available On: Android, iOS, Windows Phone Cost: Free
The Weather Channel's (TWC) app is free and available on Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. It provides you with an array of meteorological data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, UV index, sunrise, sunset, and visibility on an hourly, 36-hour, or 10-day basis. The data is displayed in a sleek and easy to view format. Interactive weather maps display the latest Doppler radar data to show current and future rainfall and weather events. You can also set up Severe Weather Alerts to be notified of severe storms, tornadoes, lightning strikes near you, blizzards, and more. The app also includes social sharing features for users to upload images, tweets, videos and photos.
The National Weather Service
Available On: Android, iOS Cost: Free
The National Weather Service gives you a quick snapshot of the current weather warnings and watches for the entire U.S. To get a more detailed forecast of a certain area, you just click the map area. You can also very quickly bring up multiple areas along your route by typing in the city names or by moving the map around to click a specific area. You can use this to focus on weather-prone areas along your route. This function is very useful for trip planning.
Storm Shield
Available On: Android, iOS Cost: Free
While this weather app does provide many of the most basic forecasting features, Storm Shield's primary focus is on providing users with up to date local severe weather alerts for extreme weather events such as thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Using GPS location data from your device, Storm Shield updates you with relevant NOAA alerts via voice and push notifications (or on your Apple Watch). Storm Shield is different from most apps in that its alerts are based on the user’s precise GPS location, instead of using county-based data. A detailed radar and weather map comes with numerous data overlays keep you up to date with info on current and saved locations. Storm Shield is free, but it costs money for additional features.
Weather Underground
Available On: Android, iOS Cost: Free
Weather Underground is unique in that it gets data from a network of more than 40,000 local professional and amateur weather stations. The crowd reporting feature allows you to verify reported forecasts as well as post your own, for a truly collaborative and interactive experience. You can also configure the app to send you severe weather alerts. Hourly, Daily, and 10-day forecasts are available. This app was voted as one of the most accurate weather apps for rural areas. If your truck route takes you into the countryside, this might be the best app for your needs. Weather Underground also includes weather cameras to view conditions in a specific area. Ads can be disabled via an in-app purchase of $1.99 per year.
AccuWeather
Available On: Android, iOS, Windows Cost: Free
AccuWeather is a great, simple to use app that offers hourly, daily, and 15-day weather forecasts which can be integrated with your calendar. MinuteCast is a new feature that provides local minute-by-minute forecasts for the next 2 hours, based on your GPS location. The app includes severe weather alerts including thunderstorms, tornadoes, and heavy snow. AccuWeather is best for forecasting the weather in your exact location, but you can also receive alerts and forecasts from other cities you choose to save in your settings. Ads can be disabled via an in-app purchase of $3.99.
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