If you are looking for a reliable weather service for your cell phone, you do not have to spend a lot of money. It’s much more about finding the right one for you. TECHBOOK presents five good weather apps so you don’t get caught out in the rain unexpectedly.
A look out of the window is often not enough to estimate what the weather will be like today. In case you don’t have time to get on the internet or turn on the TV, there are also weather apps for mobile phones. The range of such apps is diverse. The reliability of the forecasts also varies, since the providers often use different weather forecast systems. Finding an app with reliable forecasts is therefore not always easy. TECHBOOK introduces you to five good weather apps for Android and iOS and explains what you need to look out for when using mobile weather services.
How do weather apps work?
Whether a weather app can offer reliable forecasts depends first of all on which weather model it uses. Most pre-installed applications on the iPhone or on some Android devices evaluate the incoming data according to the American GFS weather model, the Global Forecast System. The system works very reliably in North America, but the data cannot be transferred so easily to Europe. Because in this country there are geographical differences in the nature of the country, which is why the forecasts are somewhat less reliable.
In order to achieve more reliable forecasts, regional systems are therefore better suited. Thanks to the higher resolution, the European weather model ECMWF and the German ICON can, for example, take regional differences into account and also provide more precise information for certain areas. In addition, Frank Böttcher, as a board member of the German Meteorological Society, points out that the weather models pursue different goals. “While the American weather model focuses on forecasting hurricanes, the model of the German Weather Service provides more clarity about the development of fog and ground fog,” says Böttcher.
Since many weather apps have been getting their data from multiple sources and evaluating it with their own systems, reliable forecasts for up to six days are now possible. However, the rule applies here that the further a day is in the future, the more imprecise the forecast becomes. After all, the weather is influenced by various factors, which can also change quickly.
Lastly, users often misunderstand the app’s information about the probability of precipitation because it is loud Stiftung Warentest is usually not presented in a meaningful enough way. It is important that the percentage does not indicate the amount of precipitation. Even a few drops count as rain. If you need forecasts of rain intensity, you should use the app’s rain radar, which also shows how rain clouds spread.
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These are the 5 best weather apps for Android and iOS
Meteorologist Frank Böttcher can suggest some good weather apps to users. These all have both a free version with basic functions and a paid premium version with additional services. And TECHBOOK also has a few recommendations for you.
WarnWetter from the German Weather Service (DWD)
warningweather For example, the free version only informs you about weather-related dangers. For 1.99 euros, the app for Android and iOS also offers location-based forecasts, a precipitation radar and information on UV radiation. However, WarnWetter only focuses on Germany.
WeatherPro by MetoeGroup
For travelers and people worldwide is against WeatherPro recommended as it provides location-based forecasts for 7 days with 3 hour intervals and also informs users about perceived temperatures, the UV index and the sunshine duration. The premium version costs 99 cents per month, with the subscription automatically renewing 24 hours before the end of the month unless customers cancel. With the pro version, users have access to weather maps and details about the bathing weather.
Weather.com
Weather.com can create weekly forecasts, has a rain and cloud radar and, with up to 16 days, enables one of the longest forecasts that are also quite reliable. The free app is available for Android and iOS. The free version includes ads, but also grants access to all functions. The weather app may look a bit old-fashioned, but it is one of the most used and reliable apps in this field.
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Weather Live
Compared to the others, the Weather Live app scores particularly well with its modern look. Thanks to the animated backgrounds, the application is really nice to look at and still clear. The weather app provides relatively precise forecasts up to 14 days in advance. The free version for Android and iOS includes advertising, the ad-free full version costs just under 2 euros a month.
Weather Online
Last informed Weather Online its users about the weather trends for the next 14 days, warns of severe weather and provides details about pollen counts and winter sports. For users who want a more precise weather radar, the 2 euro paid version would be worth a look. In the annual subscription it is then 7.49 euros. If you also want access to the historical weather data, you pay 8.90 or 89 euros.
Prefer paid or free?
Which version to take depends on your needs. How precise and comprehensive should the weather information be? To try out an app, the free version is sufficient. However, the providers often finance these versions through advertising. If you don’t want any advertisements or don’t want to do without the additional range of functions, you should therefore use the paid Pro versions.