Weather Monitoring Apps

06 July, 2025 | All

[HonkyTonkMan]

With the crazy weather we have been having (fires, floods, heat, etc). I thought it would be nice to start to a thread with recommendations for the sake of preparedness.

Recommendations

• Best Overall App: AccuWeather for its balance of accuracy, usability, and short-term forecasts.

• Best for Storm Chasing: RadarScope for professional radar data.

• Best Overall Weather Radio: Midland WR400 for reliable, localized alerts and home use.

• Best Portable Radio: Sangean MMR-88 for emergencies or outdoor activities.

• Best Budget Radio: Kaito Voyager KA500 for affordability and versatility.

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TOPICS: Weather
KEYWORDS: apps; preparedness; radio; readiness; weather; weatheralert; wx

[HonkyTonkMan]

I personally use two radios:

• the WR120 NOAA Weather and Emergency Alert Radio - WR120 It's abt $50 from Midland.

• I also use the BaoFeng BF-F8HP 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio. With a little programming using CHIRP, you can get NOAA weather alerts on it. Good for portability. About $45.

  I'm sure there are great recommendations from others and welcome your insight!

[HonkyTonkMan]

Especially for smartphone/mobile apps. I wish we did not have to pay for a non-ad version given that WX is safety-critical.

[SuperLuminal]

Good list...

[MrHead]

i like:
https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/CONUS-LARGE_loop.gif

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I just open the Apple “Weather” app. Or look out a window. If the trees are bent way over or snapping, we skedaddle.

Ponderosa Pines do snap in two 20-40 feet off the ground.

[metmom]

Ryan Hall, Y’all and Max Velocity.

[Jonty30]

Look to see if your state has an emergency broadcast app for your phone.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Bkmrk

[E. Pluribus Unum]

We have one of these.

Just got a severe weather warning a few hours ago. Get a half-dozen flash flood alerts every year.

[steveo]

I have one called My Lightning Tracker, don’t know if it’s available on IOS because I use an Android. I can set a watch area centered around my location and have it scanned from 10 to 20 miles out. I get an alert and can run in and disconnect all my radio antennas.

[packagingguy]

ventusky.com

It’s not weather alerts but has very detailed world maps so you can monitor conditions in Antarctica, the Sahara, the Andes, anywhere you want.

[Tijeras_Slim]

My Iphone. Ipad, and Mac all give different weather info for the same location. I just pick the one I like the best.

[Newbomb Turk]

Ryan Hall (YouTube) for sure is my go too. Also YallBot on YouTube.

The Weather Wise app is free for cell phones and has radar better than NWS.

National Weather Service radio is automatic in my work vehicle.

Don't be Scared. Be Aware !

[crusty old prospector]

That is a slick website. Except it only does humidity on my phone and not dewpoint.

[usconservative]

I have both of those radios and your recommendation is spot-on.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“ I just pick the one I like the best.”

LOL! I know what you mean.

Here on the western edge of the Rockies where prairie meets valleys and mountains, we just wait a few minutes. We had a summer doozy eleven years ago.

[Yogafist]

I generally use three apps to keep an eye on the weather, but I really like Texas Storm Chasers. It gives information on how hard it is raining, where there is hail or strong winds, and where there are or were tornados.

https://texasstormchasers.com/

[HonkyTonkMan]

Thank you - both work very well and relatively inexpensive. Was fun to program in CHIRP as well.

[Thank You Rush]

It’s what I have. When it goes off, it sounds like a fire engine horn blasting...Mine is in the kitchen but I can hear it in the middle of the night from my bedroom. I may not hear the message clearly but I go to the kitchen to listen or turn on the TV to see what alert is being posted across the bottom of the screen...It would definitely have helped if each camp cottage in TX had one of those set up...No mistaking what it means when it goes off!! Maybe it’s just a warning about a severe thunderstorm coming our way but it could be something much more serious - especially in the hurricane and tornado season....Good to have!!!

[JennysCool]

All FReepers should get acquainted with Ryan Hall. Ryan is a great broadcaster with a down-home sense of humor, a genius computer programmer, a foil for the snarky Y’allBot he created, a knowledgeable teacher of meteorology, and his Y’All Squad volunteers are already on the disaster scene with supplies via donations from his viewers. His live broadcasts during major severe weather, with his cadres of storm chasers on live video, are some of the most riveting you’ve ever seen, sometimes for eight or more hours, with never a dull moment, even when he tries to decide what he wants from Buffalo Wild Wings, or the “weather wife” brings him dinner. Ryan truly shows how helpful and entertaining the internet can be. His over three million subscribers can attest to that.