The best weather apps for iPhone

Your local meteorologist might seem like the best person to tell you what the weather’s going to be like, but what happens when you’re on the road or away from home, or can’t get to the TV? That’s where weather apps come in. Mobile apps are a great way to get the latest forecast any time you need it.

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Don’t just head to the App Store and start downloading, though. While just about all of the apps you can find will be able to tell you what the weather is like and what the forecast is, only a select few do it in a way that we think is particularly useful.

The list below examines some of the best on the platform, many should be the next apps installed on your iPhone. We’ll also tell you why we think they’re special and rise above the rest. Without further ado, here’s our list.

Dark Sky ($4)

Why we picked it: The visualizations.

Dark Sky gets our top pick for the best weather app out there. It’s not free like most of our other picks, but if you’re serious about tracking the weather, it doesn’t get much better than this. Where Dark Sky shines is in its visualizations and minute-by-minute predictions.

You’ll be able to get minute-by-minute forecasts up to an hour in advance, and by hourly increments for the next seven days. The app’s simple interface shows you the weather conditions and expected temperatures, and it will even send you notifications before it starts raining or snowing, so you’re not caught by surprise. There’s also an Apple Watch app that provides the basics, meaning you can keep your phone stowed on the go.

What we really like about Dark Sky, however, is the visualizations. They’re smooth and elegant, which is something you don’t find in most weather apps. Few weather apps approach maps quite like Dark Sky, which is why it’s in a class of its own. It’s even better without ads, and the one-time fee is far more attractive than the subscription-based model used by other apps.

Download now from:

iTunes

RadarScope ($10)

Why we picked it: The radar and lightning data.

Our next app doesn’t tell you the temperature, nor is it going to provide you with a forecast. In fact, RadarScope is pretty one-dimensional — it shows you the radar and that’s it. Nonetheless, it excels when it comes to its one and only function.