When you’re a runner, bad weather can be more than a minor nuisance. Unexpected, inclement conditions can throw off your training plan, ruin a workout that’s already in progress, and derail your race-day strategy.
Yet you can’t, of course, control the weather. The next best thing? Understanding when shifting temps, gusting winds, or pelting sleet is likely to occur so that you can properly plan ahead and minimize the moments you’re caught off guard.
There are no shortage of weather apps that offer this information, though certain ones are better bets for runners, i.e. more accurate, specific, and granular in their forecasting. After all, if you’re planning an al fresco run, you don’t just want to know that it’s supposed to rain at some point today in your general area—you want to know exactly when, where, for how long, and at what intensity.
Here, a roundup of five highly rated weather apps—some free and others paid—that will help you watch the weather patterns more closely going forward.
[Related: Gear & Tech]
MyRadar Weather Radar
About: With more than 45 million downloads and an average 4.8 rating out of 5, this is one of the most popular free weather apps out there—and for good reason. It pulls data directly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service to provide highly accurate, animated weather radar maps dialed in to your location so that you can see in high-definition what conditions are headed your way. You can easily zoom in to view very specific locations or zoom out to check on other parts of the country (helpful if you have upcoming race travels). What’s more, just like the weather maps on TV, the density of rainfall is color-based so you’ll get a good sense of exactly how much moisture to expect. On top of that, you can subscribe to alerts—like “It will rain in your location in 20 minutes”—to stay aware of shifting and incoming conditions.
WeatherBug
About: This app pulls data from more than 10,000 weather stations worldwide for hyper-localized, up-to-the-minute information. In addition to current, hourly, and 10-day weather forecasts, it also offers 18 different weather maps covering current conditions from nearly every angle, including lightning, wind, pressure, temperature, severe weather alerts, and more. The app is especially detailed when it comes to the most important stuff, a.k.a. bad weather. The lightning detector feature provides minute-by-minute, mile-by-mile lightning proximity alerts, and the snow report provides a 10-day forecast of snow depth and real time snow storm notifications so you can stay safe and dry during your winter training.
Dark Sky
About: This ominously named app is scarily accurate. It generates forecasts for your specific location that tell you exactly how much it’s going to rain and exactly when to expect it, down to the minute. There’s also the smooth radar animation that visualizes the path of a storm with time-lapse view and shows you where it’s headed next. Another perk: You can select a date and see historical weather data or future predictions based off seasonal averages—helpful if you’re planning out races and/or big training runs in the weeks and months ahead. You can also use the widget feature to quickly check the forecast on your homescreen for the next hour and the next week without opening the app.
Weather Live
About: Features on this aesthetically pleasing (read: beautifully designed) app include current and “feels like” temperatures, extended forecasts for the next 24 hours and seven days, wind speed, chill and direction (useful for planning your running route), sunrise and sunset time, and animated weather radar and rain maps. You can hyper-localize the data by postcode, zipcode, latitude/longitude, IP, Airport Code or city/town name. You can also keep tabs on the weather without even opening the app, thanks to a feature that allows you to integrate a detailed weather widget on your home screen.
CARROT Weather
About: If you prefer your forecasts to be highly accurate with a hefty dose of twisted humor, this high-tech, snarky app is for you. It pulls data from the Dark Sky database and translates it into entertaining, engaging updates that may just help you feel better about the crummy conditions kiboshing your run. Current, hourly, and daily forecasts are delivered with animated scenery and LOL-inducing taglines, like “It’s a bright, sun-shiny day #alternativefacts” accompanying a cold, rainy forecast. That said, if you need a break from the snark, you can disable the app’s personality and receive straightforward updates in the form of real-time radar and satellite maps and by-the-minute precipitation notifications.
Jenny is a Boulder, Colorado-based health and fitness journalist. She’s been freelancing for Runner’s World since 2015 and especially loves to write human interest profiles, in-depth service pieces and stories that explore the intersection of exercise and mental health. Her work has also been published by SELF, Men’s Journal, and Shoes & Gear, among other outlets. When she’s not running or writing, Jenny enjoys coaching youth swimming, rereading Harry Potter, Running Shoes & Gear.
