Weather Alert App Picker
Get warned in time. The right apps wake you up at 3 AM.
Already on your phone (free)
- iPhone Weather app — improved a lot in the last few years. Live radar, hour-by-hour, severe weather alerts.
- Google's weather on Android — pull down on your home screen, type "weather". Built into the Google app.
- Wireless Emergency Alerts — federal system. Tornado warnings, AMBER alerts, presidential alerts. Already on by default. (Settings → Notifications → scroll down → Government Alerts.)
Top picks (all free)
RadarScope (free version) or RadarOmega (free)
Same maps the National Weather Service uses. Sees storms 30+ minutes before regular weather apps. Best for tornado country.
My Radar
Smooth animated radar. Free version is plenty. Great hurricane tracker.
The Weather Channel app
Big-name app. Lots of ads in the free version, but reliable alerts.
FEMA app
Direct National Weather Service alerts plus FEMA disaster info. The official US emergency app.
Watch Duty
For wildfires — California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, etc. Real-time fire alerts run by volunteer fire-watchers. Free.
Hurricane prep — best free apps
- National Hurricane Center via the Hurricane app or Twitter @NHC_Atlantic.
- The Weather Channel for the cone forecast.
- Power outage maps from your local utility (FPL, Duke Energy, etc.) — usually have free apps too.
Also have a NOAA Weather Radio
Phone batteries die in storms. A $30 NOAA weather radio with battery backup wakes you up if a tornado warning hits at 3 AM, even if the power and cell tower are out. Get one with the SAME (Specific Area Message Encoder) feature so it only alerts for your county.
For grandparents who live elsewhere
Add their city to your iPhone or Android weather app. When a storm is heading their way, you'll see it. Many seniors can use a friendly text — "Heads up, big storm coming through your area Tuesday night, charge your phone."