The best weather apps provide a lot more information than just a basic forecast. We're so used to the weather changing rapidly these days that it's always best to stay on top of it so that it doesn't disrupt our plans. Not all weather apps are created equal. Yes, they'll all tell you if you need to bring an umbrella to work or if it's going to be bright and sunny the entire week.
If you live in a coastal area you'd probably prefer a weather radar app that provides detailed radar maps to keep an eye out for serious conditions, a far too regular occurrence now due to climate change. You may have allergies or other complications that might require you to constantly monitor the air quality and the presence of allergens in the air. The best weather apps will provide you with this information so you can plan ahead and be prepared for all weather conditions.
Like many Android devices, your Samsung Galaxy phone doesn't come with a native weather app. It's more of a widget powered by The Weather Channel. It provides basic information and you have to click through to the website for more information.
That's not really an intuitive experience. These best weather apps for Android provide you with easy access to all of the weather data that you may need without having to switch between tabs.
Best Weather Apps 2022
1. Clime: NOAA Weather Radar Live
Since some of the best free weather apps pull their data from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, its own app should definitely be on your radar. The NOAA is a US agency that forecasts the weather and monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditions.
The app provides you with real-time radar images and severe weather alerts. It can also push notifications when there's a weather alert for a bookmarked location. Interactive polygons shown on the tap provide updates on National Weather Service watches, warnings, and alerts.
That's in addition to the regular 24-hour and 7-day forecast, sunrise and sunset times, and “feels like” temperature information that it provides. You also get details on the pressure, humidity, wind speed, visibility, and dew point.
Download Clime: NOAA Weather Radar Live from the Play Store.
2. Carrot Weather
Even though it was initially exclusive to iOS for a very long time, Carrott Weather quickly became one of the best weather apps for Android when it was ultimately released for this platform. Users love its snarky and humorous take on weather information. Its beautifully designed interface doesn't hurt as well.
You get access to detailed current, hourly and daily forecasts that are presented to you with sarcastic humor. It even lets you change just how snarky the app can be. You can access more information about the weather as you swipe through the app.
Some of its more advanced features do require a monthly subscription. If you subscribe, it lets you view the weather for any location up to 70 years in the past or 10 years in the future. Users with a subscription can also add a widget to their home screen. Even if you use it on the free tier, the app's unique way of presenting information makes it one of the best Android weather apps.
Download Carrot Weather from the Play Store.
3. Plume Labs: Air Quality App
It's not just wildfires or natural disasters that impact the air quality. Pollution and allergens in the air can make it dangerous to go out, particularly if you have respiratory issues. This app provides vital air quality information to help you make informed decisions.
Get access to real-time pollution levels in your area and across the globe. See street-by-street air quality maps and plan ahead with a 72-hour forecast. If you love going for a run, the app can tell you what would be the best time when the air quality wouldn't be as horrible.
Air pollution is a big problem across the globe. Those of us who live in big cities are particularly affected by it. The app's ability to provide us with information that may help us breathe a little bit easier is a major reason why it's one of the best free weather apps out there.
Download Plume Labs: Air Quality App from the Play Store.
4. Weather Underground
Weather Underground is a great hyperlocal weather forecast app as it pulls in data from more than 250,000 personal weather stations across the globe. The data goes through its own forecast model to provide you with precise weather information.
The Smart Forecasts feature is what sets it apart from the rest. You can choose to track conditions like wind, rain, and temperature for a specific outdoor task like riding your bike or going for a walk and the app will then tell you what's the best time to go outside for it.
It's also one of the best weather radar apps as the interactive map can show different views for the radar, display severe weather alerts, heat maps, and even webcams.
Download Weather Underground from the Play Store.
5. Yahoo Weather
Yahoo Weather puts the emphasis on providing accurate weather forecasts with a beautiful interface. It pulls in stunning photos from Flickr to visually represent the current weather conditions in your location in addition to the time of day.
In addition to detailed forecasts, the Yahoo Weather app keeps you up to date with the wind, pressure, and chance of precipitation information. Browser interactive maps to keep a close eye on weather trends and track the weather in your favorite cities.
It's a great app for differently-abled users as well since the app is enabled for TalkBack and optimized for color contrast.
Download Yahoo Weather from the Play Store.
6. AccuWeather
The AccuWeather app always finds itself on the list of the best Android weather apps and with good reason. From minute by minute precipitation updates to severe weather alerts, allergy outlooks for your day, advanced warnings of snowfall probabilities, and more. The app provides a great depth of information about the weather.
It even provides you with forecasts 45 days in the future so that you can plan ahead and be prepared for any weather condition. Trending videos from AccuWeather's news team also offer detailed coverage of weather events across the globe.
Download AccuWeather from the Play Store.
7. Flux
If you appreciate good design, you'll love Flux. It's a relatively new app and still happens to be in beta but it works very well. The simple interface is eye-catching, making it very easy to quickly catch up with weather trends.
You can even choose from different themes to customize the look and feel of the app. Flux includes a weather radar interface and a plethora of widgets that let you choose exactly what weather information you'd like to be displayed on the home screen.
It will be great to see Flux continue to be developed with new features that make it an even more powerful weather app.
Download Flux from the Play Store.
8. Flowx
This just might be one of the best weather radar apps available for Android. Swipe through incredibly detailed weather maps and graphs populated with 30+ data types and aided by 20+ forecast models.
The app even makes it possible to track hurricanes. With all of this at your fingertips, it makes it much easier to plan around the weather for your favorite outdoor activities. It's also possible to compare models to form an even better understanding of weather patterns.
Unlike most of the apps on this list, Flowx is only available for Android, which is just one of the many reasons why it's on our list of the best weather apps for Android.
Download Flowx from the Play Store.
9. Emergency – American Red Cross
Severe weather conditions are becoming all too common due to climate change. Natural disasters are occurring more frequently than ever before which is why it's imperative that we always remain prepared.
The Emergency app by the American Red Cross can help you do that. It provides real-time local alerts for severe weather and other natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, extreme heat, wildfire, and more. Configure custom alerts and notifications to always stay in the know.
It also has a very useful feature that shows open Red Cross shelters on a map, helping you find shelter in case of an emergency.
Download Emergency from the Play Store.
10. The Weather Channel – Radar
The Weather Channel's main app is very well known. Its Radar app is equally useful and certainly happens to be one of the best weather radar apps you can have on your phone. Its local storm radar, storm tracker, and severe weather warnings can help you prepare for the worst.
Get access to live radar updates, an hourly rain tracker, local weather forecast, and more. The app's daily forecast tracking page will keep you updated on the live rain and precipitation conditions.
The app also lets you see forecasts 15 days in advance so you can plan accordingly if heading to a location where severe weather conditions occur frequently.
Download The Weather Channel – Radar from the Play Store.
FAQs
What is the best weather app?
The best weather app will provide you with exactly what you're looking for. Whether that's hyperlocal forecasts, radar imagery, air quality information, etc. Therefore, the app that you consider to be the best has to fulfill all of the requirements that you have. Fortunately, there's no shortage of great weather apps.
What does the percentage mean on the weather app?
The percentage on the weather app shows you the chance of rain at that time for that particular location. For example, if the app shows 40%, this means that there's a 40% chance that there might be rainfall. You can then check the forecast for more details.
What is the most accurate weather app?
Most weather apps generally tend to be accurate as they receive weather data from highly reliable sources such as the NOAA and Dark Sky. Some apps do receive data from personal weather stations across the globe. That makes them very accurate for users that require hyperlocal forecasts.
What does the thermometer mean on the weather app?
The thermometer in the weather app is a visual representation of the temperature at your current location. This lets you know instantly exactly what the temperature is at that moment, presenting this crucial information to you in a way that's easy to understand. You'll find this in all of the best weather apps.
