The apps are fast and convenient – but they are missing important context.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Picture it: you wake up and check your phone’s weather app. You see a sun icon and think ‘great, no rain today!’
But then, you’re caught in a surprise downpour. So, why does this happen?
Let’s raise your Weather IQ.
Your phone’s weather app is fast and convenient – but it’s missing important context. Apps use raw computer models to generate automated, generalized forecasts, but these models aren’t perfect. Plus, they can’t account for local nuances.
Think about a summer day in Charlotte. An app might say it will be partly cloudy, but your local meteorologist can tell you there will be a pop-up storm and where it’s most likely going to be based on how the atmosphere is behaving.
Apps also struggle with timing. It may say to expect rain at 3 p.m. but a meteorologist is watching current conditions and changes. This means you’ll get a more precise forecast – like if it will rain at 1 p.m. or 5 p.m., or whether the storms will miss you entirely.
Your app also may show rain or storms in the forecast, but it can’t tell you whether those storms produce tornadoes, damaging winds, or large hail. A meteorologist analyzes radar trends, instability, and wind shear to warn you when storms could get dangerous.
Weather apps also don’t offer the best long-range forecasts. A snow event two weeks out is probably not bound to happen. Models can give us long-range guidance, but they change constantly. An app doesn’t account for these changes and treats the initial data like it’s set in stone.
Spoiler alert: it’s not. One day, it may be predicting 10 inches of snow. Then the next day, it’s nothing. Models are always adjusting as better data comes in, but a meteorologist knows to watch for trends and patterns before showing a wish-cast.
The good news: not all weather apps are bad. You just need one updated by a real, human meteorologist!
Contact Bekah Birdsall at rbirdsall@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
