The Best Resources for Severe Weather News
By Laura Selby (from Tecca) on August 26, 2011
As Hurricane Irene barrels up the Atlantic, east coasters are battening down the hatches for a potentially devastating storm. Residents of the midwestern and southern United States have already seen several severe tornadoes, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting above-average levels of hurricane activity in the Atlantic this summer and fall.
Weather websites
For a quick, easy-to-read interface, you can't beat The Weather Channel. Just type in your zip code, and you'll see the forecast for the next 36 hours; if the National Weather Service has issued any advisories for your area, you'll be able to click on a red or orange banner above the forecast to read the official statement. You can also register to get severe weather alerts via text message on your mobile phone.
If you're interested in extremely comprehensive weather news, check out the official NOAA National Weather Service website. It's not as intuitive to use as Weather.com, but it does provide a wealth of information, including email alerts about severe weather in your area.
If you live in a hurricane-prone region, you can't do better than the National Hurricane Center website, which provides up-to-date radar as well as the hurricane forecast for the Atlantic and Pacific and general tips for hurricane safety. There's a mobile version, too.
Weather Underground is another useful resource that provides radar maps of severe weather both in the United States and Europe. It also has content aimed at a more meteorology-savvy audience. Don't let the terminology intimidate you; we don't know what "convection outlook" means, either, but the tornado wiki is pretty darn cool.
Weather apps
These days, it seems like there are as many weather apps as the day is long. Here are a few options to get you started.
The free Weather.com app is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android users. WeatherBug is another good bet, with free apps available for BlackBerry and iPhone.
If you're willing to pay for your storm alerts, Storm Spotter might be worth a look. It's $4.99 at the App Store; features include severe weather alerts and access to radar maps. Finally, if hurricanes are your ticket, check out the Hurricane Tracker app for iPhone; it's available for $1.99 at the App Store.
Emergency preparedness resources
When you're preparing for severe weather events, it pays to think far ahead. For tips on how to deal with all kind of weather events, from floods to blizzards, check out the National Weather Service weather safety page.
One topic that comes up frequently is having access to a battery-powered radio in case of a power outage. The easiest solution is to use a normal radio that can run on batteries; in the event of severe weather, local stations generally relay any alerts. If you'd like to have a radio that's equipped with a hand crank or combined with a flashlight, check out Safety Central, which specializes in disaster preparedness merchandise.
If you'd prefer not to have to search the airwaves for updates, you might want to invest in a weather radio (also known as a weather cube). NOAA operates a radio station solely devoted to weather information, but since it's on a bandwidth that's not received by normal radios, you have to buy a separate receiver. The good news is that you'll be able to listen to a recording of weather info for your area 24/7, not just during severe weather events.
Finally, cell phone users in the United States may be interested to know that FEMA and the FCC have teamed up to create a free cell phone-based alert service; it's scheduled to debut across the United States in April 2012. Cell phone users who have plans with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon will receive free text messages informing them of imminent severe weather threats, Amber Alerts, and terrorist threats. The service, known as the Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN), is set to go into effect by the end of 2011 in New York City and Washington D.C., according to The Washington Post.
If you live in a hurricane-prone region, you can't do better than the National Hurricane Center website, which provides up-to-date radar as well as the hurricane forecast for the Atlantic and Pacific and general tips for hurricane safety. There's a mobile version, too.
Weather Underground is another useful resource that provides radar maps of severe weather both in the United States and Europe. It also has content aimed at a more meteorology-savvy audience. Don't let the terminology intimidate you; we don't know what "convection outlook" means, either, but the tornado wiki is pretty darn cool.
These days, it seems like there are as many weather apps as the day is long. Here are a few options to get you started.
The free Weather.com app is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android users. WeatherBug is another good bet, with free apps available for BlackBerry and iPhone.
If you're willing to pay for your storm alerts, Storm Spotter might be worth a look. It's $4.99 at the App Store; features include severe weather alerts and access to radar maps. Finally, if hurricanes are your ticket, check out the Hurricane Tracker app for iPhone; it's available for $1.99 at the App Store.
Emergency preparedness resources
When you're preparing for severe weather events, it pays to think far ahead. For tips on how to deal with all kind of weather events, from floods to blizzards, check out the National Weather Service weather safety page.
One topic that comes up frequently is having access to a battery-powered radio in case of a power outage. The easiest solution is to use a normal radio that can run on batteries; in the event of severe weather, local stations generally relay any alerts. If you'd like to have a radio that's equipped with a hand crank or combined with a flashlight, check out Safety Central, which specializes in disaster preparedness merchandise.
Finally, cell phone users in the United States may be interested to know that FEMA and the FCC have teamed up to create a free cell phone-based alert service; it's scheduled to debut across the United States in April 2012. Cell phone users who have plans with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon will receive free text messages informing them of imminent severe weather threats, Amber Alerts, and terrorist threats. The service, known as the Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN), is set to go into effect by the end of 2011 in New York City and Washington D.C., according to The Washington Post.
[Image credits: NOAA Photo Library, Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Mark Moran, Phil Eastman, and Dave Demers, radar data from NCDC]
What's your best source for tracking severe weather?
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Tecca is a next-generation personal electronics information and shopping service. We bring together the web's leading content, commerce, and community features to provide comprehensive solutions for consumers' ever-growing technology needs. Think of us as that tech savvy friend who helps you when you have questions about what to buy, what to pay, how to make the most of you already have, and when it's time to upgrade. Get to know us on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. Laura Selby is a writer at Tecca. A professional background ranging from ESL teaching to real estate appraisal has given her many unique talents, including first-rate gesturing skills and the ability to drive and take pictures at the same time (don't try this at home). Her interests include travel, education, information, and tech solutions that enhance real-life experiences.
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