Winter Storm Fern is poised to deliver heavy snow and devastating ice across large swaths of the United States, potentially impacting over 230 million people. According to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, the storm will bring miserable conditions soon. Smartphone weather apps offer a practical way to monitor its progress and plan accordingly.
Winter Storm Fern, as forecasted by NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, will soon unleash heavy snow and ice on significant portions of the US, creating challenging conditions for residents. The Weather Channel projects that more than 230 million individuals could face disruptions from this powerful weather event.
To stay informed, several weather apps stand out for their features tailored to tracking such storms. The Weather Channel app provides hourly temperatures, rain chances, live radar, and severe weather alerts, alongside videos on weather, environment, and health topics. However, its free version includes numerous ads, which can be distracting. The privacy policy notes that it collects device and location data, such as GPS, and sharing occurs, though users can request data deletion tied to preferences.
AccuWeather features MinuteCast for minute-by-minute forecasts over the next four hours, ideal for timing outings during the storm. It displays daily conditions, allergy info, and top-placed severe alerts. The free tier is robust, but some safety advice requires a premium subscription at $2 monthly. Its policy allows collection of personal info, cookies, and nearby device data, shared with partners like Amazon and Facebook.
For a lighter touch, Carrot Weather adds customizable personality options, from professional to profane, while delivering standard forecasts, moon phases, and UV index. The free version lacks radar, and its chatbot uses OpenAI's ChatGPT, potentially sharing message content. Privacy focuses on necessary data only, with some sharing to services like AccuWeather.
Outdoor enthusiasts may prefer WeatherBug, which includes air quality, pollen, fire risk, and an Outdoor Sports Index rating activities from 1 to 10. It tracks lightning strikes but has persistent ads. The policy collects personal details like name, address, and interests, with 1,248 deletion requests honored in 2024.
Weather Underground emphasizes privacy, allowing easy opt-outs for data sharing used in targeted ads and simple deletion requests. It offers live radar and 24-hour temperature history, though some users report slowdowns since features like its 2018 API ended.
Clime prioritizes in-depth radar views for precipitation, clouds, snow depth, and fire activity, alongside basic forecasts. Data retention can last up to 10 years post-subscription, but interactions reset the clock.
All these apps are free to download on iOS and Android, with paid upgrades from $2 monthly to remove ads and add features. They enable proactive planning amid Fern's approach, though reviewing privacy policies is advisable given data practices.
