Isn’t it amazing how we have a world of weather information right at our fingertips? You can check the forecast for rain, snow, or sunshine with your smartphone, wherever you are, with the help of the Android weather app. Not every weather application is built the same. Some are great for warning you about an upcoming storm, and a few are built for those who like to surf, hike, or ride bikes and want to be aware of the weather before they go.
In this post, we have listed the best weather apps for Android phones for every type of predicament you might find yourself in. What’s even better? In addition to providing forecasts, some of these applications tell extra weather-related data, such as wind speed, allergy facts, radar maps, and more.
1. AccuWeather
AccuWeather is one of the top weather apps for a good reason. If you plan a trip, work outdoors, run, or organize a tour, AccuWeather provides all the necessary information you need about the weather. One of its standout features is the MinuteCast, which gives you a minute-by-minute forecast for the next four hours. Further, you can easily plan your day with radar data from the past hour and projections for the next two.
The main screen is a treasure trove of information including current temperature, how it feels, today’s highs and lows, and the precipitation possibility in the next few hours. The handy menu at the bottom gives you quick access to radar, hourly and daily forecasts, and even hurricane details when necessary. A quick scroll and you can see what’s in store for the rest of the day, with hourly and daily forecasts neatly presented in a long, scrollable list. There’s even a graph to check how the temperature fluctuates quickly over time.
In addition to reporting weather conditions, AccuWeather can inform you when the sun will rise and set and warn you of potentially dangerous allergens, including tree pollen, dust, mold, and more. The free app version is already good enough, but if you want more details, the paid version offers expert analysis of weather events. However, it’s worth noting that some crucial info, like guidance during dangerous weather conditions, is only available in the premium version.
2. The Weather Channel
Calling The Weather Channel app a ‘weather app’ doesn’t quite do it justice. The app includes a news section where you can access the latest headlines; these tend to focus on the environment and wildlife, though you may also find interesting pieces on health and wellness. Considering the weather stuff, this app is like your personal weather station with everything you need, including hourly temperatures, rain probabilities for a whole day, a live weather radar, and any severe weather alerts in your area.
The app’s ability to provide timely local weather forecasts is an important competitive advantage for The Weather Channel. It will provide all important details, such as storm warnings, hourly updates, and 15 days weather forecasts. Keep an eye on the widgets on your home screen that provide access to several radars to monitor rain and storms that could save your life. All this info is cleanly organized in a single, detailed menu. However, the free version is plagued by advertisements, which can be a big disturbance. But if ads aren’t your thing, you can always opt for the paid version.
3. Weather Underground
Weather Underground is another great weather app that tracks specific conditions, with the Smart Forecasts feature as its crowning glory. This software will inform you when to go outdoors based on the variables you specify, like the possibility of rainfall, wind speed, temperature, and air pollution levels.
Let’s say you’re a biker who wants to stay safe from the weather but must go from point A to point B in one piece. You can customize your Weather Underground prediction however you prefer, which will inform you when in the day and over the next few days would be ideal for a cycling or bike ride. As a highly precise meteorological system, it collects information from thousands of weather stations worldwide. You can examine weather-related reports such as humidity, radar systems, satellites, heat charts, webcams, storms, and more on an interactive map.
At a glance, the mobile application displays your current position, radar overview, and a forecast for the day’s weather. Just scroll a little, and you’ll find a 10-day forecast on daily and hourly basis. There’s also a handy temperature graph, the air quality index for today, and even Smart Forecasts thrown in weather videos, health details, webcams, and important data about hurricanes and tropical cyclones.
What’s even better? These highly flexible tiles allow you to rearrange and conceal content that doesn’t pique your attention. Even though the basic version of Weather Underground for iOS and Android is free, a premium version is available that removes commercials and adds functionality like Smart Forecasts and long hourly estimates.
4. OpenSummit
OpenSummit is the go-to app for any hiker. You get to look at current and forecasted weather for over 1,000 locations across the United States for free with all the core features. Want to find a specific mountain or randomly explore? You can search for it or see where the wind takes you, and save your favorite spots to check their weather conditions.
With OpenSummit, you can find the current and forecasted temperature, humidity, wind speed (steady, gusty, and over 30 mph), and thunderstorm risk. You can even connect an Instagram account with the app and view recent photos in the area. The app also provides helpful reminders to bring essentials, such as food and water, on your hike and safety advice.
While their focus is currently on places within the United States, they plan to extend to hundreds of locations internationally. Both the Android and iOS versions of the app are free, but OpenSummit All-Access unlocks bonus features, including hourly forecasts for the next five days and additional map data.
5. NOAA Weather & Tides
The NOAA Weather & Tides app is an excellent resource for predicting the weather, finding out about tides rise and fall, and the water currents. The app fetches information from the NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), so you can rest assured that the data you see is as current and reliable as possible.
In addition to the weather forecast, it also provides tide information, which is a plus if you enjoy activities like swimming, fishing or relaxing on the beach. With that info at your fingertips, you can make sure you schedule your day to coincide with the high & low tides. The great thing for me about this app is that it offers really accurate weather predictions. The app gets updated every hour, so you’ll always know whether to bring an umbrella or sunscreen. The free version comes with ads, so you have to buy the paid version to get rid of ads and receive extra features.