People have been trying to prefigure the weather condition for thousands of years . You ’d think that by now we ’d have it sorted out — yet open three different weather condition apps on your sound and you ’ll believably find three slightly unlike forecasts . How hard can it be to get the conditions right ?
Pretty intemperately . Evenweather experts agreethat meteorology is “ an art as much as a skill . ” Our legal document have come a very long means since theweather rock , and computer clay sculpture allows us to catch and litigate Brobdingnagian quantities of data . Ultimately , though , a prognosis add up down to one matter : the soothsayer ’s judgement .
Weather apps are likeweather reports on television , which never seem to match up , either . That ’s because each app or post uses its own systems and formula to forecast the meteorologic time to come .
Meteorologist Jeff Masters is the father of Weather Underground . “ You start with the same fundamental mathematical equations that govern the motion of the ambiance , ” hetoldThe Virginian Pilot . “ But the steganography is unlike . ”
Every prognosticator starts with the same tender data , a “ firehose ” of information pouring in from satellite , radar , and atmospheric condition station around the world . From there , they have to decide how to process that information , and which variable will be relevant for any give situation .
No matter what canal you look out , site you visit , or app you download , you ’re become to have to make room fora little error . Meteorologists call their prognosis “ counsel , ” not “ the future . ”
Some apps ’ counselling hit the mark more often than others , but the best weather app for you depends on what you want .
TheWeather Underground app(iOS , Android ) is destitute and super - detailed . TheWeather Channel(iOS , Android ) is also free but focuses more on social culture medium , take into account users to partake weather updates with friends . Dark Sky($3.99 , iOS , Android ) is hyperlocal and immediate , focused only on the present moment and the next few hours . For dead on target weather nerd , there’sRadarCast Elite($1.99 , iOS ) , which offers high - definition radar tomography so you could watch that pressing system roll in .
[ h / tThe Virginian Pilot ]
