Meteorologists are warning the public not to rely solely on smartphone weather apps during dangerous winter storms, as a severe system brings heavy snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures across the United States. Experts say the apps often fail to capture the nuances of multi-faceted storms that involve different types of precipitation.
University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd said: “Weather apps are really bad at storms that have multiple types of precipitation and it really makes messaging hard. Apps don’t understand the details of why snow, sleet or freezing rain happens.”
University of Oklahoma professor Jason Furtado noted that many apps use AI methods to interpolate forecasts from larger grids to specific locations, which can introduce significant errors. He stressed the importance of human forecasters who interpret data and provide localized forecasts.
Some apps, however, are more reliable. The Weather Channel app uses multiple models, data sources, and staff meteorologists. Its vice president James Belanger said: “It’s an all-hands-on-deck kind of approach that we take. Not all weather apps are created equal.”
Northern Illinois University professor Victor Gensini warned that many apps “oversimplify uncertainty and present highly precise-looking numbers that imply more confidence than actually exists.” He said such storms expose the weakest points of apps because they miss nuances.
National Weather Service meteorologist Cory Mottice, who created the app EverythingWeather, said his app uses data from over 125 weather service offices, ensuring human oversight. He cautioned that many apps rely on raw computer modelling data without human adjustment, which can lead to misleading numbers during extreme events.
