The Best iPad Apps – Weather Apps

This past summer, we started a new class at the Lincoln AgeWell Computer Education Center called “Using Your iPad and iPhone“. The class was so popular, that I decided to release a book of the same name, in hopes that I could also help iPad and iPhone users not able to attend classes.

(BTW… you can CLICK HERE to learn more about the Using Your iPad & iPhone book which is ON SALE for 20% off until Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 at 11:00 PM).

Anyway, after one of the classes, one of the students mentioned that there were so many apps out there, that “it would be great if you had a list of all the best iPad apps”.

This got me to thinking, maybe I SHOULD come up with some type of Best iPad Apps list and share it with everyone.

Thus was born this article, which is the first in a continuing series I’ll do on my favorite apps for the iPad and iPhone.

Now, since this is the first article in a series of what will be many, let me explain a few things about how I’m going to do this.

• Every app that I include here will be one that I personally use on a regular basis.
• Unless I otherwise mention it, all the apps I talk about will work on either the iPad or the iPhone.
• In most cases I’ll try and recommend FREE apps, but will also talk about my favorite PAY-FOR apps.

And that’s it. So let’s get started with our first segment.

The Best iPad/iPhone Apps for Weather

Ok, I’m a weather nut. I LOVE weather. In fact, if I had to do it all over again, I’d become a meteorologist and chase funnel clouds in the stormy spring along the dry-line in Texas and Oklahoma just for fun.

But since I’m just a lowly computer geek, I’ve instead settled for watching the weather to the best of my nerdy ability  using my computer and more recently, iPad and iPhone.

I spent a LOT of time and even some money looking for the best weather related apps, and after looking high and low decided on two that give me all I need to know about the weather and what’s out there in the sky.

• The Weather Channel – FREE (ad supported)– Believe it or not, the same company that gives you 24/7 weather on your TV also has an app that does the same thing… put the latest weather information at your fingertips.  The Weather Channel App was recently redesigned to be even more graphical and is especially attractive on your iPad.The app gives you current conditions (5 minute delay) with hourly, 36 hour, and 10 day forecasts, as well as local/national radar, and weather alerts from NOAA. There are other options too (like Weather Channel video and social connections), but the forecasts are what I use the most.

• My Radar – FREE (ad supported)–  The radar map that the Weather Channel includes is pretty good, but what I was looking for is a radar app that is as close to real-time as possible.  I DID find an app (that cost a yearly subscription) which provide ALMOST real-time radar, but I just didn’t want to pay the fee.Then I ran across My Radar, an app whose sole purpose in life is to give you a good, ALMOST real-time radar (it’s normally about 2 to 4 minutes behind).My Radar has a nice map screen with radar that’s pulled from NOAA (as most radar is), and includes temps and alerts if you want them.There is  a pay-for version that removes the ads (and I’ve done this), but since most of us are used to ads in our free apps, I suggest you NOT pay for the non-ad version.

So there you have it. My favorite two weather related apps.

And don’t forget, you can CLICK HERE to learn more about the Using Your iPad & iPhone book which is ON SALE for 20% off until Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 at 11:00 PM!

Now it’s your turn.  If you’ve run across a weather app your really like, let me know in the comments below!