Get a full review of the most popular weather apps in Canada. Find out where your favourite weather app shines, and where it may let you down. Join hosts Jerry and Daniel in today’s episode to hear our inside view of weather apps for your phone and a review of some of the most popular apps in use across Canada.
Casual Chat
A group of climate scientists in New Zealand have suggested the addition of a sixth category to the Saffir-Simpson scale to reflect the increasing severity of tropical cyclones in the wake of warming sea temperatures and climate change. In addition, research done by James Kossin, Atmospheric Research Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggests that tropical cyclones are now moving notably slower when compared to the 1940s and 1950s. This idea can also be tied to climate change. Jerry, what are your thoughts (particularly when it comes to climatology and your recollection of pattern matching)?
This past Saturday, June 9th, 2018, widely recognized AccuWeather storm chaser Reed Timmer took a trip to Alberta in anticipation of a severe weather outbreak. While very photogenic shots were captured, no official tornadoes were reported. What does U.S. chasers coming north mean to storm chasing in Canada?
Several fake photos said to have been taken in Cold Lake, Alberta, including those of tornadoes, have surfaced on social media. This is just another reminder to take what you see on social media with a grain of salt. There have also been some new severe weather risk maps that have emerged online that mimic what is being done by official weather agencies. Can the production of these graphics by non-government organizations be viewed as a good thing, or does it do more harm than good?
App Review
Time now for the main attraction of tonight’s show. That our first ever weather app review. Daniel and I have spent the last week monitoring several apps for several locations across Canada to see how they perform.
Accuweather – DANIEL
Ease to Find Current Conditions = 10
Same day weather forecast = 9
Long Range Outlook = 9
Weather Warnings = 7 (push notifications were hit and miss, but banner always showed up in-app)
Other Features = 7 (minute-by-minute, maps, AccuCast, Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts)
Visual Ease = 5 (ads, hard to navigate, tricky usability)
Accuracy = 5.5
Overall = 52.5/70 = 75% (B)
The Weather Channel (native apple app) – JERRY
Ease to Find Current Conditions = 10
Same day weather forecast = 9
Long Range Outlook = 7 (lacking detail)
Weather Warnings = 0 (none)
Other Features = 1 (none)
Visual Ease = 10 (no ads, super clean one page)
Accuracy = 7
Overall = 44/70 = 63% (C)
WeatherBug- DANIEL
Ease to Find Current Conditions = 10
Same day weather forecast = 8 (does not forecast precipitation amounts)
Long Range Outlook = 8 (does not forecast precipitation amounts)
Weather Warnings = 1 (alert notifications & push notifications only for US locations, Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts/Spark Lightning alerts only in-app)
Other Features = 8 (interactive maps, lightning data, Thunderstorm Alerts, articles)
Visual Ease = 9
Accuracy = 3
Overall = 47/70 = 67% (C+)
The Weather Network – JERRY
Ease to Find Current Conditions = 10
Same day weather forecast = 9
Long Range Outlook = 9 (like the precipitation amounts that are forecast)
Weather Warnings = 8 (hit-and-miss alerting, but banner works)
Other Features = 7 (radar, articles)
Visual Ease = 4 (ads)
Accuracy = 8
Overall = 55/70 = 79% (B+)
WeatherLive – Daniel
Ease to Find Current Conditions = 10 (compact/detailed widget, temperature on badge, weather report notifications)
Same day weather forecast = 7 (not as intuitive to nativigate,