Tech mistake |There was a time when you had to read the newspaper or watch the local news to get the weather forecast. Thankfully, those days are over. The smartphone in your pocket can be used as a portable weather studio. A weather app can tell you everything you need to know about the weather. A handy widget makes it even easier to check the current conditions. Here are the best weather apps (with widgets) for Android.
1. Weather Timeline (Top Choice)
Our top choice for the best weather app and widget is Weather Timeline. It’s one of the most beautifully designed weather apps in the Play Store. Whether you just want to get a quick glimpse of the current conditions or a deep dive into the radar and extended forecasts, Weather Timeline has all the tools you need. The widgets are also highly customizable.
2. 1 Weather
1Weather has been around for a long time and it’s still a favorite among many Android users. The design utilizes easy-to-read icons and weather backgrounds so you can quickly get an idea of the conditions. All of the traditional features, such as a wide variety of forecasts, live radar, severe weather alerts, and more.
3. AccuWeather
AccuWeather is one of the most well-known names in the weather game. The app has more features than you can shake a stick at. Everything from extended forecasts to live radar. The most unique feature is called “MinuteCast,” which shows precipitation on a minute-by-minute basis. You’ll know exactly how long until the rain starts.
4. Dark Sky
Dark Sky was a popular iOS-only app for a long time, but it’s available on Android now too. This app’s claim to fame is the “hyper-local” forecasts. You’ll know when the rain will start and stop, down to the minute. The one big catch with Dark Sky is the $2.99 per year subscription for premium features. Not a lot of people want to pay yearly for a weather app.
5. Google
Plain ‘ol Google Search actually has a really nice weather “app” built-in. Do a weather-related search and you’ll see a nice interface with a bunch of weather information. You can open the menu and pin the “app” to your home screen just like any other app. It even has a widget called “At a glance.” This is a great option if you just need a simple weather solution.
6. NOAA
For the hardcore weather nerds, NOAA has to be on the list. This app gets its information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It may not be the best-designed weather app in the Play Store, but it’s chock full of highly detailed weather information.
7. WeatherBug
WeatherBug is very old weather, but it’s still a great choice for Android users. It claims to be powered by the “world’s largest network of professional weather stations.” Some of the features in WeatherBug that you won’t find in other apps include heat index, pollen count, and UV index.
8. Weather Channel
The Weather Channel is the most well-known weather network in the world. Their Android app has all the great features you would expect. Extended forecasts, current conditions, live radar maps, storm alerts, and just about everything you could ever want to know about the weather.
9. Weather Underground
Weather Underground utilizes user-submitted weather data for very accurate and hyper-local forecasts. The app has live radar maps and severe weather alerts as well, but the crowd-sourced weather data is what makes this app so great. Download the app and help spread the word about the weather in your neck of the woods.
10. Weather Wiz
Weather Wiz is the newest app on our list, but it’s already one of the best options out there. The fresh design is playful and fun while still offering up a lot of great weather information. The data is provided by IBM Weather Company, which is not something you’ll find in most weather apps. If you’re tired of the old standbys, give the new kid on the block a try.
