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7 Best Weather Radar Websites and Apps in 2024 That Are Free
Ed Oswald Last Updated: April 8, 2024 12 Comments Educational Weather Articles
There are numerous apps and websites available on the internet to get accurate weather radar data. However, many require a fee, either to purchase the app or to subscribe to the radar data itself.
While paid options will give you real-time live radar data, a few free radar websites and apps offer user-friendly radar imagery with minimal delay. But a minimal delay can be a deal breaker.
Storms can quickly form, so weather radar websites and apps without real-time radar data put you at risk, especially if you’re outdoors.
Table of Contents
Here Are the Best Weather Radar Websites and Apps
We’ve assembled a list of the seven best weather radar websites and apps for 2024. All of them are free to download and use.
Finally, we’ve also included our recommendations of top paid weather radar apps if you need the best radar data available in real time because even the top free apps can delay radar data by five or more minutes.
1. National Weather Service
Website:https://radar.weather.gov
For the best, go right to the source. The National Weather Service offers free radar data from its website. The site is relatively easy to use and was recently updated, making it easier to use.
A new user interface allows users to zoom in and out easily, and it’s browser and mobile friendly. You can view animations and radar products that show wind velocity and rainfall.
The site also layers warning boxes over the imagery so you can see which storms have severe warnings.
Despite the drastically improved interface, some challenges remain. The radar resolution is still a bit grainy, and it isn’t as quick to update as with some apps.
There’s no app either due to a non-compete clause with the private industry in Federal law. Unlike apps, you won’t get notifications of severe weather for your area.
Pros
- Offers a full suite of radar products for free
- Much improved user interface which is easy to navigate on a mobile device
Cons
- Resolution is grainy
2. The Weather Channel
Website:https://weather.com/maps/usdopplerradar
App:Android / iOS
The Weather Channel’s app continues to be one of our top radar apps for 2024, and in our opinion, it’s the best actual mobile weather app. According to Forecast Advisor, The Weather Channel is consistently rated as the most accurate weather app for many cities across the US.
This general weather app has some great radar features that we think are worth mentioning, such as:
Fluid image zooming down to street level.
An innovative future radar option using proprietary short-range modeling attempts to forecast future storm movement by up to six hours.
One negative is that the app smooths radar imagery too much for better appearance. In turn, this may cause some inaccuracy in the data, especially when zoomed in.
The smoothing is addressed in a premium radar option, which offers higher resolution radar and forecast imagery.
Pros
- Well-designed user interface
- Access to The Weather Channel’s news and video coverage
Cons
- Free radar version smooths out radar too much
- You have to pay for higher quality radar images
3. Windy
Website:https://www.windy.com
App:Android / iOS
Windy is great for outdoor enthusiasts, like boaters and pilots, who need a more comprehensive look at the weather. The app layers radar, wind, precipitation, cloud cover and more seamlessly in a visually appealing way.
While there’s a lot to like about Windy, the radar data is often five or more minutes old. Detailed information might be a bit too complex for the average user to understand, so we’d recommend some of the other weather websites and apps if you’re looking for something easy to use.
Pros
- Visually appealing maps
- Lots of weather data options
Cons
- Weather radar data is often 5+ minutes old
- Has a learning curve
4. AccuWeather
Website:https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/national/weather-radar
App:Android / iOS
AccuWeather is another app that does a whole lot more than just radar. Along with radar, you also have access to AccuWeather’s 15-day forecasts, precipitation outlooks with the percentage of rain, and a host of other weather data.
The radar also has a future radar option, but unlike the Weather Channel’s, it only predicts three hours in advance. Zooming in and out is easy too.
While it doesn’t smooth the radar images to the degree The Weather Channel’s app does, it is still enough that it may cause some inaccuracy. The user interface is not as intuitive as others on our list, but in terms of the amount of data available, it is one of the more feature-rich.
Pros
- Access to AccuWeather content
- Lots of data options
Cons
- Radar images aren’t the best resolution
- Future radar only predicts by 3 hours
5. Weather Underground
Website:https://www.wunderground.com/weather-radar/
App:Android / iOS
The Weather Underground is an excellent app if you’re looking for radar information and hyperlocal weather conditions.
The site has the most extensive collection of personal weather stations in the world, and this data is put on the map with the radar giving you a much more comprehensive picture of what’s going on at a particular location.
However, if current weather observations aren’t vital to you, then the added information might get in the way. Also, after being bought by The Weather Channel several years back, its functionality is not much different than The Weather Channel’s app.
We feel that unless you need the hyperlocal conditions that Weather Underground provides, opt for The Weather Channel app instead.
Pros
- Offers hyperlocal weather conditions
- Lots of information from its extensive PWS network
Cons
- Not much different than The Weather Channel App
- Radar images are smoothed, just like the free Weather Channel app
6. WeatherBug
Website:https://www.weatherbug.com/maps/
App:Android / iOS
Although it’s not as popular as it was a decade ago, WeatherBug is still around and offers hyperlocal current weather conditions on its website thanks to its network of weather stations at homes, schools, television stations, and other locations throughout the world.
The company has an app, with good weather and lightning data, on offer for free.
While its impressive visual maps offer all kinds of weather data, like the two previous apps, it smooths out radar images for appearance. Again, not to the degree The Weather Channel does in its free app, but enough to cause interference.
We recommend sticking with the free version—the paid version is $19.99 and takes away the ads.
Pros
- Lots of high-quality weather information
- Lightning data is included
Cons
- Radar image quality could be better
- $19.99 for an ad-free version with no additional functionality
7. NOAA Weather Radar Live
NOAA Weather Radar Live used to be one of our top recommendations because it was so well-designed, and it offered plenty of free data. However, that’s changed.
App users have reported that the amount of free data has shrunk, with a premium subscription necessary to use most of the app without seeing annoying subscription popups. That’s a shame, considering how good the app is.
Radar imagery with NOAA Weather Radar Live is sharp, and during the winter, precipitation type is overlaid so you can spot where it’s raining or snowing. Access precipitation and satellite data and generate forecast data for any location on the map.
However, severe weather alerts or lightning data require premium access to obtain. We’ll keep them on our list, but we may need to look elsewhere next year if they don’t listen to their users.
Pros
- Well designed app
Cons
- You have to pay for severe weather alerts and lightning data, which is available free with other apps
- Significant decrease in the amount of free data available
- Frequent subscription popups
Our Top Paid App Pick: RadarScope
Website:https://www.radarscope.app
App:Android / iOS
If none of the above weather apps have what you’re looking for, and you’re willing to spend money on a quality professional weather radar app or website that storm chasers use, our top recommendation is RadarScope.
Available on Android and iOS for $9.99 and Windows or Mac for $29.99, this app has the quickest radar updating around. You have access to the same radar products that the pros do, at the same time they see them—along with live warning information.
Stepping up to the Pro Tier 1 subscription for $9.99 per year gets you longer animations and lightning data (a must for outdoor enthusiasts), dual pane capability, and inspection tools.
The top end Tier 2 package adds in hail and shear contouring (the latter necessary for tornado formation), as well as multi-platform use and a 30-day radar archive.
But even for just $9.99 for the app without the tiered options, the standard data is fantastic.
Pros
- It’s the absolute best radar app out there, period.
- Little if any delay in radar imagery
Cons
- You need the $9.99/year Tier 1 plan to get the most out of the app
Runner Up Paid Pick: Dark Sky
Website:https://darksky.net
App:iOS
This app was so good that Apple acquired it. The app was previously available for Android and iOS, but it’s now only available to Apple users after the acquisition. While its functionality is slowly being integrated into the iOS weather app, it remains a separate app for the time being.
Dark Sky is famous for its down-to-the-minute weather forecast, which lets you know exactly what’s going to happen and when. We’ve tried it out—the app is impressively good for short-term forecasts.
The weather animations are seamless and polished. While there’s a reasonable degree of smoothing (a feature we wish Apple would allow us to change) and the radar color scheme used is a little unusual, this is still a great all-around premium weather app.
Pros
- Impressive accuracy with its forecasts
- Seamless animations
Cons
- There’s a good deal of smoothing in the imagery
- Non-traditional radar color scheme that you can’t turn off
Final Thoughts
Whatever option you choose, any of the weather radar websites and apps above will keep you informed before severe weather strikes. If we didn’t include your favorite weather radar app, let us know in the comments below.
We’d love to hear what apps and websites you depend on to keep you out of harm’s way.
Published: February 3, 2020
About The Author
Ed Oswald
Hi, thanks for stopping by. I'm the lead contributor here at Weather Station Advisor. I've had a lifelong interest in the weather spanning more than 30 years, culminating with the pursuit of a Meteorology degree from Millersville University in Pennsylvania. My interests lie in severe weather and climate change.I also have a degree in Journalism from Temple University, and have spent nearly my entire journalism career covering consumer gadgets. You might have seen my work on Digital Trends, PC World, VentureBeat, or even the New York Times website. I've written quite a bit!At Weather Station Advisor, I joined the team to provide you with the best reviews, recommendations and advice to get the most out of your investment. As I've found out on my own, weather stations aren't cheap, and it's easy to make a costly mistake.
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Comments (12)
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Pete Lamperty August 11, 2019
Reply
I’ve been using the National Weather Service for many years, especially for their radar time loop displays. Lately I’ve been running into road-blocks related to their use of Adobe Flash Player for the animation – Flash is now blocked by default (Chrome browser) requiring that I enable it each time I turn on my PC. Research reveals that Adobe will abandon support for Flash in 2020 and this annoyance is a deliberate attention-getting precursor to that event. Do you know if the National Weather Service has any plans to migrate to a Flash Player alternative for their animations? Apparently the modern versions of HTML have capabilities that rendering Flash unnecessary and hence its impending End of Life. It seems the answer is for the National Weather Service to upgrade their web page HTML. Your thoughts please. Feel free to respond via my email address.
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Robert Hults August 25, 2019
Reply
I have been a flag waver for WU for years but it has taken a nosedive over last 12-15 mos. It is now slow to log on, my favorite weather station cannot be saved and I have been having lots of problems using NEXRAD radar. When I tried to highlight a specific area (outline, zoom with mouse) I am getting areas hundreds of miles away more often than not. Emails to WU are acknowledged but seldom answered. I feel like I have lost an old friend.
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Ed Oswald April 9, 2024
Reply
WU’s apps are easier to update and launch, with less of the website’s drag in loading. The apps are free, but you have to make the best of the pop ups that could become an annoyance. The iOS app has a 4-star rating, making it a great option.
Remember that the more information gets layered onto radar maps, the longer it will take to load. Due to the lag in load-time, you would have to zoom very slowly on the site to avoid ending up out of your target area. Alternatively, why not try one of the other weather apps and sites like the Weather Channel or WeatherBug.
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Trina September 1, 2019
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I have been enjoying Weather Bug for years. I try other apps but always come back to Weather Bug. Disappointed I didn’t see it listed.
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Ed Oswald April 9, 2024
Reply
WeatherBug remains a popular weather app, and it’s been added to our updated list. The app offers fairly accurate lightning data, which is essential to anyone who enjoys the outdoors.
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ALan Aicher September 12, 2019
Reply
I use windows on my computer with a 32 inch monitor. Intellicast used to be great until Weather underground appeared and now it is useless. I do not own a “smart phone” and have little use for most of the apps so that is not an option.
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Ed Oswald April 9, 2024
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If you prefer working on your browser, you can definitely try sites like the Weather Channel, the National Weather Service, or Windy. Keep in mind that a site loads slower than an app, and radar data is complex, which requires a higher upload speed.
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Ron October 19, 2019
Reply
Nothing touches what Intellicast provided. I keep searching but, so far, to no avail.
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Laurie November 18, 2019
Reply
Intellicast was my favorite, too, but when it was bought out by Weather Underground, somehow they managed to miss the ease and speed of loading, and moved it to a more finicky system. I hope someday someone puts out something as good as Intellicast.
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Ed Oswald April 9, 2024
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For the discerning weather fundi, it may be worth it to invest in a paid-for service such as RadarScope or DarkSky. Best of luck on your search.
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Sumner H June 25, 2020
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Thanks for the nice list! I’m flabbergasted that you could’ve missed the MyRadar app — by far, my favorite app, for real-time weather radar, when I’m out and about, or just wondering what’s heading my way at home. I love the recently added lightning flashes, but also the layers for winds, temperatures, clouds, warnings & watches, outlook areas, fronts. They even have hotspot depiction for earthquakes and wildfires. It’s free and highly useful as is, but they do have some handy in-app purchases. I use the hurricane tracker to see if my family in Florida is threatened. I use the aviation layers as preliminary part of flight planning. It even has weather warning notifications. The one thing they’re weak on, is portraying vectors showing the direction and speed that storm cells are moving, like the recently retired Storm app, but the radar motion gives you a sense of that, anyway.
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Ed Oswald April 9, 2024
Reply
We’ll be sure to add MyRadar on a future list as it definitely has some great features. One downside is that you need Parallels to make it Mac-friendly. Hopefully, this will improve in the future for desktop browsers.
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