iPhone users trying to plan what to wear around the weather on Tuesday might have had some difficulty if they were relying solely on Apple’s weather app.
Apple Weather temporarily went down in the morning, displaying only a city’s name without any forecast — an apparent repeat of other outages over the past month.
The glitch was especially frustrating to iPhone users who previously used Dark Sky, a once-popular weather app that was shut down and folded into the Apple Weather app that comes with iPhones.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday, but the app appeared to have resumed functioning by midmorning. The company’s support page said in its system status updates that some users “would have experienced issues” with the weather app from 7 a.m. to 11:49 a.m. and marked it as a “resolved issue.”
Needless to say, you have other options besides the phone in your hand or pocket.
Go local.
Rather than relying on an app that provides forecasts for all over the world, you can find one that centers on where you live. Many local news stations have their own weather apps or news apps with weather functions. The local meteorologists behind those apps are likely to know your area well and can provide accurate forecasts.
Check out the Weather Channel or AccuWeather.
If you’re looking for forecasts from all over the world, consider the Weather Channel or AccuWeather apps. Both go beyond detailed forecasts, providing a look at allergens in forecast areas.
For tracking storms, pay up.
If you live in a region that sees severe weather often, and you’re into tracking storms, RadarScope features detailed radars that reflect the intensity of an incoming storm as well as its path. Those detailed radars come with a one-time price of $9.99. Third-party apps such as Carrot Weather and Weather Underground, which bring their own flavor of meteorology to their subscribers, also offer paid options.
Carrot Weather, for instance, allows for some customization to access radar and hour-by-hour temperature predictions. Weather Underground boasts of access to more than 250,000 weather stations for hyperlocal information and an easy-to-navigate design.
Know more than the temperature.
Beyond the basic weather figures, if you live in a city where air quality can be a concern, IQAir AirVisual | Air Quality, which is available on both iOS and Android, can keep you updated on measures of air pollution, with what its developers say are data points from more than 10,000 locations in over 100 countries. Want to see a 3-D world pollution map? You can.
Clime, an app found in iOS and Android, provides air quality updates and can bring weather radar images right to your phone, along with other mapped details on wildfires and a built-in hurricane tracker.
Add the National Weather Service to your phone.
Many TV station meteorologists regularly consult with the National Weather Service, so you might as well go straight to the source. The service’s forecasts are usually accurate and reliable.
The Weather Service doesn’t have an app, but its website is available on mobile phones. For have quick access, search for your local Weather Service office, and add its webpage to your phone.
On an iPhone, you can do that by clicking the send button at the bottom of the screen, selecting “Add to Home Screen” and clicking “Add.” It will create what looks like an app on your phone’s screen, but it will direct you to the Weather Service’s forecast page for the region you selected. On an Android, add a webpage by tapping the menu button, and clicking “Add to Home screen.”
Keep it simple.
If you’re looking for a weather app with just the basics and no frills, consider the Real Weather App for iPhones, iPads and MacBooks. The app features a minimalist design with font and images that look as if they were drawn by hand.