Having served as a Navy SEAL, I know firsthand the critical importance of staying informed during severe weather events.
That’s why I’ve compiled this list of the top tornado tracking apps to help you safeguard yourself and your loved ones.
Living in a tornado-prone region or simply wanting to be prepared requires the best tools at your disposal.
These apps offer real-time, precise information to help you make quick, informed decisions when it counts the most. With features ranging from advanced radar data to customizable alerts, each app on this list is designed to provide you with the tools you need to track and prepare for tornadoes effectively.
Contents
- 1. RadarScope
- 2. Clime: NOAA Weather Radar Live
- 3. Storm Shield
- 4. The Weather Channel
- 5. MyRadar Weather Radar
- What to Look for in a Tornado Tracking App
- How Tornado Tracking Apps Can Save Lives
- Are Paid Tornado Apps Worth the Investment?
- Final Thoughts and Personal Favorite
- Frequently asked questions about tornado tracking apps
- Conclusion
1. RadarScope
I’ve relied on RadarScope for its accuracy and real-time updates during my deployments.
RadarScope allows users to view NEXRAD Level 3 and Super-Resolution radar data, as well as data from other sources such as Environment Canada and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. This includes reflectivity, velocity, dual-polarization, and other derived products.
The app’s professional-grade radar data and customizable alerts make it a top choice for tracking tornadoes and severe weather.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Accurate and reliable data: RadarScope provides professional-grade radar data from NOAA’s NEXRAD network, ensuring you have access to the same information used by meteorologists and emergency management professionals.
- Customizable alerts: Set up personalized alerts for your specific location, allowing you to stay informed about tornado threats and severe weather in your area.
- Export capabilities: Users can export the currently displayed map to several common image formats.
- Multiple radar sites: You can select from over 289 different radar sites in various countries, making it useful for tracking storms globally.
Cons
- Learning curve for advanced features: While RadarScope is user-friendly, some of its more advanced features may require a bit of a learning curve for those new to radar terminology and settings.
- Subscription fees: RadarScope Pro subscriptions, which offer additional features, can add to the overall cost
Key Features
- Multiple radar views: Access different radar views, including reflectivity, velocity, and precipitation, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the weather situation.
- Storm tracking: Follow the path of storms and tornadoes with the app’s storm tracking feature, which provides estimated arrival times and projected paths.
- Crowd-sourced weather reports: View and contribute to crowd-sourced weather reports, allowing you to share and access real-time information from other users in your area.
- Product selection: The application offers a variety of radar products, including reflectivity, doppler velocity, precipitation estimates, and dual-polarization products. You can change the product being viewed through the product name menu.
- Map interaction: You can interact with the map using tap, pan, and pinch gestures. The map displays the names of over 25,000 cities and towns as users zoom and scroll.
User Experience
RadarScope offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy to access the information you need quickly.
The app’s customizable settings allow you to tailor the experience to your preferences, while the detailed radar data provides a wealth of information for those who want to dive deeper into the science behind severe weather.
The Pro subscription offers additional features like real-time lightning data, extended loops of super-resolution data, SPC outlooks, local storm reports, and a 30-day archive of radar products. There are two tiers of subscription, each with different levels of features.
2. Clime: NOAA Weather Radar Live
Clime: NOAA Weather Radar Live is an excellent choice for tracking tornadoes and staying informed about severe weather conditions.
The app provides a seamless experience, combining interactive radar, real-time alerts, and detailed forecasts to help you stay one step ahead of any potential threats.
It offers real-time radar images, allowing you to track precipitation, including rain, snow, and mixed precipitation, across the Continental US, Alaska (except northern), Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and parts of Mexico, Canada, Australia, and several European countries.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- User-friendly interface: Clime’s intuitive design makes it easy for you to access and interpret weather data, even if you’re not a meteorology expert.
- Comprehensive weather data: The app offers a wide range of weather information, including radar, satellite imagery, and detailed forecasts, giving you a complete picture of the current and upcoming conditions.
- Customizable alerts: Clime allows you to set up personalized alerts for your specific location, ensuring you receive timely notifications about tornado warnings and other severe weather events.
- Precipitation forecast map: Provides an advanced precipitation forecast map for the next 24 hours and a minute-by-minute precipitation outlook with RainScope.
Cons
- Ad presence: The free version includes ads, which can be intrusive and detract from the user experience
- Limited data layers: Some detailed data layers and advanced features are only available with the Pro subscription
Key Features
- Real-time radar imagery: Provides real-time radar images showing areas of rain, snow, and mixed precipitation. Users can view animated radar images for the last 40 minutes up to the current time.
- Weather forecasts: Offers detailed weather forecasts, including today’s weather, 7-day local forecasts, and hourly forecasts for up to 14 days with the Pro subscription.
- Customizable alerts: Users can set up customizable weather alerts for bookmarked locations, including notifications for tornadoes, hurricanes, freeze warnings, and other severe weather events.
- Precipitation forecast: Provides a 24-hour precipitation forecast and a precipitation map showing forecasted rain and snow for the next 24 hours.
- Governmental weather warnings: Supports severe weather warnings for various countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, and others.
User Experience
Clime’s user experience is smooth and intuitive, with a clean layout that puts the most important information front and center.
The app is centered around a map interface, allowing you to easily navigate and view weather conditions for different locations. The map is well-designed, making it easy to see weather situations such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation for any place by simply clicking on the location
The app’s home screen displays current conditions, radar imagery, and detailed forecasts, allowing you to quickly assess the weather situation at a glance.
Navigating through the app is easy, with clearly labeled icons and menus that guide you to the features you need. Whether you’re looking for hourly forecasts, extended outlooks, or historical weather data, Clime makes it easy to find and interpret the information you need to stay safe during tornado season.
3. Storm Shield
Storm Shield is a top-rated app for tracking tornadoes and severe weather, offering a unique combination of voice alerts, precise storm-based warnings, and user-friendly features.
It offers storm-based alerts for tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, thunderstorms, winter storms, and other life-threatening weather events.
These alerts are delivered via voice and push notifications, ensuring users receive timely warnings.
Users can view NOAA severe weather alerts on the map, including radar, clouds, snow cover, wind speed, and other weather layers. The app also features a high-definition radar map that can be customized with various layers such as temperature, road weather, and water temperature.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Voice alerts: Storm Shield sets itself apart with its voice alerts feature, which provides clear, audible notifications when a tornado warning is issued for your location, ensuring you stay informed even if you’re not actively looking at your device.
- Precise storm-based warnings: The app uses your exact location to provide storm-based warnings, reducing the likelihood of false alarms and helping you focus on the most relevant threats.
- Interactive radar maps: Users can view live visual updates on various weather conditions, including floods, snow, hurricane tracks, and more. The iMap Radar map allows users to toggle different layers such as temperature, road weather, wind speed, and snow cover.
- Apple Watch integration: Storm Shield supports Apple Watch, allowing users to receive a tap on their wrist when alerts are issued for their locations
Cons
- Limited free features: While Storm Shield offers a comprehensive set of features, some of the more advanced options are only available through a paid subscription, which may not be suitable for everyone.
- US-Centric: While the app is highly effective for users in the United States, its features and alerts are primarily tailored for American weather systems. Global coverage is limited compared to other apps.
Key Features
- Multiple location tracking: Users can track up to five separate locations, making it useful for monitoring weather conditions for family members or different areas of interest.
- Lightning alerts: Available with a premium subscription, this feature provides real-time lightning data and notifications up to 10 miles away.
- Storm tracks: The app shows the track of storms, including their speed and direction, which is particularly useful for severe weather events.
- Customizable notifications: Users can choose which types of alerts they receive, including statements, watches, advisories, and warnings for various weather conditions
User Experience
Storm Shield’s user interface is clean and intuitive, with a focus on providing quick access to the most critical information.
The app’s home screen displays current conditions, radar imagery, and any active alerts, allowing you to assess the situation at a glance.
Users have praised the app for its reliability and accuracy in providing severe weather alerts, often citing instances where the app alerted them faster than other sources.
Additionally, it’s designed to minimize battery usage while providing continuous weather updates, making it a practical choice for daily use.
4. The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel app provides current weather conditions, hourly forecasts, and daily forecasts up to two weeks in advance.
The app also includes a 15-minute forecast for rain intensity up to 7 hours in the future
It allows you to manage personal weather alerts to receive notifications that are important to them, such as severe weather warnings, pollen counts, UV index, and more.
The app also offers tools and tips tailored to several health conditions that can be affected by the weather, including skin health, breathing, allergies, and cold & flu.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Comprehensive weather data: The Weather Channel app provides a wide range of weather information, including interactive radar maps, detailed forecasts, and severe weather alerts, giving you a complete picture of current and upcoming conditions.
- Trusted source: As a well-established and widely recognized weather authority, The Weather Channel offers reliable and accurate information, ensuring you can make informed decisions when it comes to severe weather.
- Smart widget: Provides a smart widget that offers detailed weather information at a glance and one-tap access to the forecast.
- Breaking news alerts: Keeps users informed with the latest weather news and breaking alerts for extreme weather events.
Cons
- Ads and premium features: The app includes advertisements, and some advanced features are only available through a paid subscription, which may not suit everyone’s needs or preferences.
- Fixed layout: Unlike some other apps, The Weather Channel does not allow users to rearrange panels or customize the layout to their preferences.
Key Features
- Current conditions and forecasts: Provides current weather conditions, hourly forecasts, and daily forecasts up to two weeks in advance.
- Radar and satellite imagery: Includes live Doppler radar maps and satellite imagery to help users track storms, heavy rain, heat waves, and other severe weather events.
- Severe weather alerts: Delivers storm-based alerts for tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, thunderstorms, winter storms, and other life-threatening weather events. These alerts are location-based and can be customized.
- 15-Minute forecast: Provides a 15-minute forecast for rain intensity up to 7 hours in the future, along with radar imagery on the homescreen.
- Air quality index forecast: Includes forecasts for air quality, which can be particularly useful for users with respiratory issues.
- Allergy and flu forecasts: Offers detailed information on allergy and flu forecasts to help users plan accordingly
User Experience
The user experience of The Weather Channel app has been significantly enhanced with recent updates, focusing on personalization, ease of use, and providing actionable weather insights.
The app features a modern and intuitive design, built with newly written code and current state-of-the-art design patterns, tools, and APIs. This redesign aims to make the app more user-friendly and visually appealing.
You can register and select what weather conditions are important to you, such as temperature, wind, humidity, and precipitation. The app can also learn your preferences over time to provide a more tailored experience.
Additionally, coming soon in a beta version, as premium subscriber you’lll be able to engage in immersive, interactive weather-related experiences with AR. This feature helps you better visualize how conditions like UV, pollen, or inclement weather could affect their current location.
5. MyRadar Weather Radar
MyRadar Weather Radar provides real-time animated weather radar around the user’s current location, allowing for quick assessment of incoming weather.
The radar loop lengths can be up to two hours.
You can add various visual elements to the map, such as clouds, lightning, wind, temperature, hurricanes, and earthquakes. This customization helps in analyzing different meteorological phenomena.
The app also includes a detailed hurricane tracker with features such as the cone of probability for tropical storm/hurricane forecast tracks and a detailed synopsis from the National Hurricane Center.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- High-resolution radar: MyRadar provides detailed, high-resolution radar imagery, allowing you to easily track the movement and intensity of storms in your area.
- Customizable alerts: The app offers customizable alerts for tornadoes and other severe weather events, ensuring you receive timely notifications when it matters most.
- NOAA weather alerts: MyRadar delivers NOAA weather alerts, including severe weather warnings, tornado warnings, and hurricane alerts. These alerts are delivered via push notifications, ensuring users receive timely warnings.
- Global events tracking: Users can stay informed about current global events like earthquakes and wildfires.
Cons
- Limited free features: Some advanced features, such as the hurricane tracker and aviation layers, are only available through a paid subscription, which may not suit everyone’s needs.
- Optional upgrades: While the app is free to download, some advanced features require a subscription or an upgrade to the Pro version. This includes features like the hurricane tracker and additional data layers.
Key Features
- Intuitive map interaction: Users can move around the map by sliding their finger and zoom in on specific points to see precise weather conditions for their current location.
- Layer customization: The app allows users to select from a variety of layers, including surface winds, frontal boundaries, earthquakes, wildfires, and more, making it highly customizable.
- Hyper-local rain alerts: MyRadar offers patent-pending hyper-local rain alerts that notify users up to an hour in advance of when rain will arrive at their location, including details on intensity and duration.
- Aviation features: For pilots and aviation enthusiasts, MyRadar offers layers for AIRMETs, SIGMETS, TFRs, Echo Tops, and flight plans, allowing users to track flights and display their IFR flight plans and paths.
User Experience
MyRadar Weather Radar offers a user-friendly and feature-rich experience.
The app features a simple and intuitive interface that allows you to quickly navigate and understand the weather conditions around their current location. You can move around the map by sliding their finger and zoom in on specific points to see precise weather details
It’s also one of the highest-rated weather apps, praised for its accuracy, ease of use, and detailed weather information. It has over 50 million downloads and is considered a top 5 weather application.
Users have praised the app for its reliability, accuracy, and the value of its features such as hyper-local rain alerts and detailed hurricane tracking.
What to Look for in a Tornado Tracking App
When selecting a tornado tracking app, there are several key features and functionalities to look for to ensure you receive accurate, timely, and useful information.
Here are the essential aspects to consider:
- Real-Time Alerts: The app should provide instant notifications for tornado warnings, watches, and updates. This feature ensures you’re always aware of severe weather conditions as they develop.
- Advanced Radar Data: Look for apps that offer high-quality radar imagery. The ability to track storms in detail, including their path, intensity, and speed, is essential for understanding the potential impact.
- Customizable Alerts: The ability to customize alerts based on your location and personal preferences is vital. You should be able to set notifications for specific areas, such as your home, workplace, or loved ones’ locations.
- Ease of Use: An intuitive and user-friendly interface is important, especially in high-stress situations. The app should be easy to navigate, with clear, accessible information.
- Battery Efficiency: Since tornadoes can cause power outages, the app should be optimized for minimal battery usage, ensuring it remains operational for as long as possible during emergencies.
- Additional Weather Information: A comprehensive app will not only track tornadoes but also provide detailed weather forecasts, including wind speeds, precipitation, and temperature trends, helping you stay prepared for all weather conditions.
- Reliability and Accuracy: Ensure the app is backed by credible weather services or meteorological organizations. The accuracy of the data can make a significant difference in how effectively you respond to severe weather.
- Offline Capabilities: In areas with poor reception or during power outages, an app that offers offline maps and stored data can be a lifesaver.
- Community Features: Some apps include social features that allow users to report weather conditions in real-time, providing a crowd-sourced layer of information.
How Tornado Tracking Apps Can Save Lives
Tornado tracking apps play a crucial role in saving lives by providing timely and accurate information, enabling you to take necessary precautions before, during, and after a tornado.
Here’s how these apps can make a life-saving difference:
- Early Warning: One of the most significant benefits of tornado tracking apps is their ability to provide early warnings. By sending instant notifications of tornado watches and warnings, these apps give users precious time to seek shelter or evacuate if necessary. Early alerts can be the difference between safety and disaster.
- Real-Time Data: Tornado tracking apps deliver real-time data, including storm paths, wind speeds, and radar imagery. This information allows you to monitor the storm’s progression and make informed decisions about when and where to take cover. Staying updated in real-time can prevent individuals from being caught off guard.
- Customizable Alerts: Many apps allow you to set up alerts for specific locations, such as home, work, or a loved one’s area. This feature ensures that people receive relevant warnings tailored to their circumstances, allowing for more effective and timely responses to tornado threats.
- Accurate Forecasting: Advanced radar and forecasting tools within these apps provide you with a detailed view of upcoming weather patterns. Accurate forecasting helps you plan ahead, whether it’s deciding to stay indoors, reschedule travel plans, or ensure that emergency supplies are ready.
- Accessible Information: Tornado tracking apps are designed for ease of use, ensuring that critical information is accessible to everyone, even in high-stress situations. The clear and straightforward presentation of data allows users to quickly understand the situation and take appropriate action.
- Communication Tools: Some apps include features that allow users to communicate with family and friends, share their location, and report their safety. This communication capability is vital during emergencies when staying connected with loved ones can provide reassurance and coordinate responses.
- Educational Resources: Beyond tracking storms, many apps offer educational resources on tornado safety, providing tips on how to prepare for a tornado, what to do during a warning, and how to stay safe after the storm has passed. This knowledge empowers users to act confidently and effectively in the face of danger. From creating an emergency kit to identifying the safest room in your home, these tips can make a significant difference in your ability to weather the storm.
- Offline Capabilities: In situations where internet connectivity is lost, some apps can still provide critical information through pre-downloaded maps and stored data. This offline functionality ensures that users are not left without guidance when they need it the most.
By providing early warnings, real-time data, and vital communication tools, tornado tracking apps empower you to act quickly and effectively during tornadoes.
These apps significantly reduce the risk of injury or death by helping you stay informed and prepared in the face of one of nature’s most unpredictable and dangerous phenomena.
Are Paid Tornado Apps Worth the Investment?
While many free tornado tracking apps provide a solid foundation for staying informed about severe weather, paid versions often offer enhanced features that can further improve your safety and overall user experience.
- More detailed radar data: Paid apps provide access to higher-resolution radar imagery and additional data layers, such as storm tracks, hail size estimates, and tornado probability contours. This extra level of detail can help you better understand the severity and potential impact of an approaching storm.
- Longer radar animations: Free apps often limit the length of radar animations, making it harder to track the development and movement of storms over time. Paid versions usually offer extended radar animations, allowing you to see how a storm has evolved and better predict its future path.
- Ad-free experience: One of the most significant benefits of paid tornado apps is the absence of advertisements. Pop-up ads and banners can be distracting and frustrating, especially when you’re trying to access critical information quickly. An ad-free experience ensures you can focus on the data that matters most without interruptions.
Paid tornado apps also tend to offer more advanced notification options, such as the ability to set custom alert thresholds based on storm severity or proximity to your location.
Some apps even allow you to receive alerts for multiple locations, making it easier to keep track of loved ones or monitor conditions in areas you frequently visit.
Another advantage of paid apps is priority support. When you encounter an issue or have a question, you’ll typically receive faster and more comprehensive assistance from the app’s support team. This can be particularly valuable during high-stress situations when every minute counts.
When Might a Free App Suffice?
If you live in an area with infrequent tornado activity or simply want basic alerts without any advanced features, a free app might be sufficient.
Many free tornado apps still provide essential features like real-time alerts and basic radar, which could be enough if your needs are minimal.
Extra Tips
While paid tornado apps offer enhanced features and benefits, they are not a replacement for official warning systems and common sense.
Always follow the guidance of local authorities and prioritize your safety above all else.
So, paid tornado tracking apps are a sound investment if you require advanced features, enhanced reliability, and a more personalized experience.
If you live in a tornado-prone area or prioritize having the most accurate and comprehensive information available, the benefits of a paid app often justify the cost.
However, if your needs are basic and occasional, a free app might suffice, saving you the expense while still keeping you informed.
Final Thoughts and Personal Favorite
As a former Navy SEAL, I’ve faced life-threatening situations where reliable information was crucial for survival.
Tornado tracking apps are no different. They provide vital alerts that can make all the difference when seconds count. While every app on this list offers excellent features, Storm Shield stands out as my personal favorite.
Why Storm Shield?
Precise Alerts and User-Friendly Design: What sets Storm Shield apart is its precise, voice-based alerts that keep you informed even when you’re not actively monitoring your device. The storm-based warnings significantly reduce false alarms, ensuring you focus only on the most relevant threats.
Customizable Experience: Storm Shield allows you to personalize the app to suit your needs. Whether it’s saving multiple locations or setting up custom alerts for specific severe weather events, the app ensures you’re always prepared for what matters most to you.
Comprehensive Weather Data: Beyond tornado tracking, Storm Shield offers a wealth of weather information, including interactive radar, detailed forecasts, and historical data. This comprehensive view helps you stay informed about current and upcoming conditions in your area.
Peace of Mind: With Storm Shield, you can trust that you’ll receive timely, accurate alerts when a tornado threatens your location. This empowers you to make informed decisions and take immediate action to protect yourself and your loved ones.
In conclusion, paired with a well-thought-out disaster plan and a solid understanding of how to secure your home, Storm Shield helps you stay one step ahead of the storm, ensuring you’re ready for whatever nature throws your way.
Frequently asked questions about tornado tracking apps
How accurate are tornado tracking apps?
Tornado tracking apps can be highly accurate, especially those that integrate data from reliable sources such as NOAA and the National Weather Service (NWS). Apps like RadarScope and MyRadar provide real-time radar imagery and storm tracking capabilities, which are often precise enough to help users identify potential tornadoes.
Can I rely solely on a tornado app for warnings?
While tornado tracking apps are valuable tools, it’s not advisable to rely solely on them for warnings. These apps should be used in conjunction with other alert systems, such as NOAA Weather Radio and local emergency alerts.
What should I do if my app alerts me of a tornado?
If your app alerts you of a tornado, immediately seek shelter in a safe location, such as a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows. Stay informed through your app and other sources until the threat has passed.
Also, have an emergency kit ready. Prepare an emergency kit ahead of time with essential items such as water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, a first-aid kit, and a battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio.
Conclusion
Remember, a tornado tracking app is just one tool in your severe weather preparedness arsenal. Creating a comprehensive plan, staying informed through multiple channels, and knowing how to act quickly can help keep you and your loved ones safe during a tornado event.
Batten Safe understands the urgency and anxiety that come with tracking severe weather, especially tornadoes.
With practical advice and trustworthy resources, Batten Safe equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to ensure your safety and peace of mind during tornado season.
Explore Batten Safe for more insights and strategies to protect yourself from severe weather.
