WunderBlog Archive » Category 6™
Category 6 has moved! See the latest from Dr. Jeff Masters and Bob Henson here.WU Storm App: Now on Android
Android users who’ve been hungering for access to WU’s Storm app, which debuted in 2015 on iOS devices, have cause to celebrate: Storm is now available for you! Android users can download Storm within the Google Play Store. For iOS users, it’s available within iTunes or the App Store.
Storm builds on the usefulness and clean design of the main WU app, and the data and forecasting strengths of WU and The Weather Company, to provide an array of features designed with storm trackers and weather enthusiasts in mind. The app allows you to view current conditions, daily or hourly forecasts at a glance and in a more detailed view, all drawing on WU’s network of more than 200,000 personal weather stations (PWSs). Storm also provides a wealth of other features specifically designed for keeping track of extreme weather.
High-definition radar: Storm provides access to data from the national network of NEXRAD radar sites at the top resolution available, with a razor-sharp 250 meters (800 feet) between data points. Users can view animations of past activity and extrapolations of current activity out to two hours ahead.
Storm tracks: For each key area of current storm action identified by the app, Storm provides a strength rating, storm motion, precipitation rate, any potential hazards (such as wind, hail, lightning, and tornadoes), and more.
Full-screen interactive map: The fully customizable Storm map interface allows you to display lightning, fronts, PWS data, and even earthquakes. I especially like the semi-transparent display of NWS watches, warnings, and advisories, which makes it easy to see where more than one type of alert is in effect.
Customizable alerts and notifications: Users can be notified of warnings and other alerts issued by NOAA, Environment Canada, and MeteoAlarm. Up-to-the-minute severe weather alerts are also available through widgets.
Socialize your weather: Storm allows you to share storm-tracking details and radar data with your friends and family via text message, email, Facebook, or Twitter.
Storm can be installed on Android phones and 7-inch tablets. The app can be used free of charge; for an ad-free experience, you can purchase a one-year subscription for $1.99. One user of Storm told us: "Storm is the best app out there. I've bought over 30 weather apps. Nothing (including several apps combined) comes close.”
Here comes the heat
A hot weekend is coming up for most of the nation, and the Southwest in particular. We’ll have a full update Monday on this weekend’s record-threatening Southwest heat wave, which may intensify northward into California and eastward into the central states next week. We are also keeping an eye on Invest 93E in the eastern North Pacific. This system is moving away from Mexico and into a less favorable environment, and NHC has reduced its chance of development to 40% over the next 5 days.
Have a great weekend, everyone, and stay cool!
Bob Henson
Figure 1. WU depiction of maximum temperature predicted at midday Friday for Saturday, June 18, 2016, by the National Digital Forecast Database.
Storm builds on the usefulness and clean design of the main WU app, and the data and forecasting strengths of WU and The Weather Company, to provide an array of features designed with storm trackers and weather enthusiasts in mind. The app allows you to view current conditions, daily or hourly forecasts at a glance and in a more detailed view, all drawing on WU’s network of more than 200,000 personal weather stations (PWSs). Storm also provides a wealth of other features specifically designed for keeping track of extreme weather.
High-definition radar: Storm provides access to data from the national network of NEXRAD radar sites at the top resolution available, with a razor-sharp 250 meters (800 feet) between data points. Users can view animations of past activity and extrapolations of current activity out to two hours ahead.
Storm tracks: For each key area of current storm action identified by the app, Storm provides a strength rating, storm motion, precipitation rate, any potential hazards (such as wind, hail, lightning, and tornadoes), and more.
Full-screen interactive map: The fully customizable Storm map interface allows you to display lightning, fronts, PWS data, and even earthquakes. I especially like the semi-transparent display of NWS watches, warnings, and advisories, which makes it easy to see where more than one type of alert is in effect.
Customizable alerts and notifications: Users can be notified of warnings and other alerts issued by NOAA, Environment Canada, and MeteoAlarm. Up-to-the-minute severe weather alerts are also available through widgets.
Socialize your weather: Storm allows you to share storm-tracking details and radar data with your friends and family via text message, email, Facebook, or Twitter.
Storm can be installed on Android phones and 7-inch tablets. The app can be used free of charge; for an ad-free experience, you can purchase a one-year subscription for $1.99. One user of Storm told us: "Storm is the best app out there. I've bought over 30 weather apps. Nothing (including several apps combined) comes close.”
Here comes the heat
A hot weekend is coming up for most of the nation, and the Southwest in particular. We’ll have a full update Monday on this weekend’s record-threatening Southwest heat wave, which may intensify northward into California and eastward into the central states next week. We are also keeping an eye on Invest 93E in the eastern North Pacific. This system is moving away from Mexico and into a less favorable environment, and NHC has reduced its chance of development to 40% over the next 5 days.
Have a great weekend, everyone, and stay cool!
Bob Henson
Figure 1. WU depiction of maximum temperature predicted at midday Friday for Saturday, June 18, 2016, by the National Digital Forecast Database.
The views of the author are his/her own and do not necessarily represent the position of The Weather Company or its parent, IBM.