Few apps can create as much joy, appreciation, and, in some cases, frustration as those that fall within the App Store's "weather" category.
Apple's own pre-installed weather app covers the basics, but it's clear that users are looking for more. If you look at the reviews for some of the most popular weather apps, from the sassiness of Carrot to the personalization of Brella, you'll find that users aren't just satisfied with an accurate forecast: They're thrilled with the beautiful layouts and features that go beyond simply predicting when it's going to rain next.
Today's weather apps can tell you what to wear, how bad your allergies might be that day, how much sunscreen you should plan on putting on, and whether you should leave the apartment with an umbrella. The best ones usually offer something a little extra. Ahead, a look at the best weather apps and how to determine which one is right for you.
The Most Adorable: Weather Puppy
The words "adorable" and "weather" don't usually exist in the same sentence. But that was before Weather Puppy was created, putting an entirely new spin on "it's raining cats and dogs."
Every day, your weather forecast is accompanied by a cute pup, who reacts in sync with what's happening outside (i.e. at night, the terrier will sleep, while the bulldog looks sad during a storm). Scroll down and you'll see data including the heat index and wind gusts, as well as a full 10-day forecast and hour-by-hour breakdown of weather over the next 24 hours.
There are two ad modules which are annoying, but expected, for a free app. You can remove the ads and get additional puppy themes — options include "yoga dogs", "glamour", "pug life", and "frenchies" — by paying $1.99. Or, customize the app with photos of your own dog. If you're more of a cat person, there's also a Weather Kitty app.
Weather Puppy, free to download, App Store and Google Play.
The Most Personalized: Brella
Your definition of "hot" may be different than someone else's. That why Brella lets you set your personal preference for each temperature range. You can also select the items you would wear depending on the temperature, from a t-shirt in weather that's "cool to hot" to a jacket in "cool" weather only.
These preferences are used to write a chatty forecast that tells you what you might want to wear that day. Scroll up for additional details about that day's weather as well as a six-day forecast.
Brella, free to download, available on the App Store.
The Snarkiest: Carrot
If you prefer your forecast delivered with a healthy dose of attitude, opt for Carrot. The app has a "personality" that throws plenty of hilarious shade, while also delivering a beautifully designed look at a week's worth of weather. You can tap on a particular time to get a more detailed look at what the weather gods have in store.
You can always adjust the app's personality within settings. On one end of the spectrum is "professional" which will disable all banter; on the other is "overkill", during which "Carrot will make creative use of profanity in her forecasts." Put simply, this is not your average weather man.
Carrot, $4.99, available on the App Store and Google Play.
The Most Detailed: Dark Sky
If you're that person who always gets caught in rain without an umbrella, Dark Sky is worth the $3.99 investment. The app gives you down-to-the-minute forecasts, and includes a health necessity: a UV index.
Swipe from the right and you'll access a beautiful, time-lapse animation that shows you what the temperature and precipitation are like in your area — and all over the world — over the course of a week.
Dark Sky, $3.99, available on the App Store and Google Play.
The Most Effective For Allergies: The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel app is full of distracting ads, but if you can get past these and scroll down to the Allergy Tracker section, it's worth it. Start by selecting which kind of pollen affects you most: Tree, grass, or ragweed. You'll see a breakdown of when pollen is the most active and get a daily outlook so you know when to pop the Zyrtec before leaving the house.
The Weather Channel, free to download, available on the App Store and Google Play.
The Classic: MyRadar NOAA Weather Radar
If you like your weather served straight up — no sass, no humor, just meteorology facts — go with MyRadar. The app opens to an animated map showing the weather moving around your area, which is populated using data from the National Weather Service. Swiping down from the top of the screen offers a breakdown of weather in the next hour, your week at a glance, and a five-day forecast.
MyRadar NOAA Weather Radar, free to download, available on the App Store and Google Play.
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