Weather the Elements Armed with WeatherBug

For folks who love monitoring the weather, this Android app is for you. WeatherBug provides detailed information about the weather in your current location. Using geolocation, WeatherBug sorts through its satellite feed to feed you the information you need based on where you are or where you want to be.

After downloading the free app, you will be defaulted to the Now page. This screen is chock full of information concerning your current location. On this page, see what the current temp is, what the Feel Like temp it, times for sunrise and sunset, the Hi and Lo, and time of day.

From this page you have access to WeatherBug Home which allows you to connect into any automated home energy monitoring devices. The weather plays a key part in how you spend electricity and natural gas to heat and cool your home; and this app helps you use the weather to your advantage.

The Now page also allows you to customize up to seven different information points:

• 10-day forecast
• Tonight’s forecast
• Spotlight section
• Live cameras showing weather conditions
• Photo Library of pics submitted by users
• Spark lightning detection system
• Pollen Levels

From the top of the page, you can also access a DETAILS page, an HOURLY page, and a 10-DAY forecast page.

What I really liked about the HOURLY page was the ability to see the hourly forecast for the next few days, making plans for the outdoors so much easier.

The DETAILS page is really neat. It gives you a graphic that shows you how far into the day you are in an arc that starts at sunrise and ends at sunset. It also tells you the phase of the moon for today. Scroll down a bit and see what the pollen levels are like, with some details as to whats floating in the air today, so you can prepare.

If you live in an area that’s destined for some showers, or thunderstorms, then you know the value of weather radars and maps. WeatherBug provides this service for free. Choose the menu option at the very top left corner and then select Maps. This feature also provides the ability to view traffic conditions via Google and satellite imagery.

Spark is something unique. It offers the user the ability to see lightening activity anywhere in the world. For now, you may want to use it if you are a hiker striking out on an expedition later in the afternoon; or if you are a soccer mom who wants to know what the conditions out on the playing fields will be later this evening.

It’s pretty cool to see the activity going on elsewhere in the world, while you sit in the comfort of the coffee shop just around the corner from home. When I tried it, there was nothing happening in the desert southwest, but strikes were high in Toronto and Minneapolis.

WeatherBug is a pretty cool app if you are looking for a single point of contact to get your weather information. What I did not like was the various ads that were interspersed throughout the app, on almost every screen. You can get rid of them with a small in-app purchase, however.

This app is the bomb when it comes to knowing what your current atmospheric conditions are and what you can expect in your future. Download today!

Rating: 8/ 10

Price: Free