Even when the iPhone first came out, the default Weather app for the iPhone was somewhat of a disappointment, with its scant amount of weather information. When third-party apps arrived, it was often the first to be replaced. For a while, there was only one good weather app that was free, and it was called WeatherBug (review). Since then, two new apps have appeared that we feel are much better: The Weather Channel (free, download) and AccuWeather (free, download). While both are somewhat equal in the type information they provide, we have to give our recommendation to The Weather Channel for its focus on easy access and thoroughness of information.

Current Conditions

Both apps offer the same basic weather information for current conditions, including temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, and “feels like” temperatures. However, only AccuWeather offers indices for various health considerations, including UV, air quality, arthritis, and flu.

Slight advantage to AccuWeather.

Forecasts

Both apps offer forecasts, but The Weather Channel is more extensive and thorough. Its hour-by-hour forecast extends out to 10 hours, and AccuWeather only goes 5. The Weather Channel has both a 36-hour and 10-day forecast, while AccuWeather offers a 5-day forecast. The Weather Channel forecasts chance of precipitation, AccuWeather does not.

Big advantage to The Weather Channel.

Radar

When a big storm is coming, nothing is more fascinating than watching it creep closer on weather radar. The advantage for AccuWeather is that it offers animated radar, meaning you can watch the action of the storm closing in. However, it offers no timestamps, so there’s no way to tell what time period the information was recorded in.

The Weather Channel’s radar is not animated. Instead, it overlays a still frame of current radar information (updated every 5 minutes) over Google Maps. While the lack of animation is a disappointment, there are more features, like the ability to zoom in and out, as well as to quickly view conditions at weather-effected areas like airports and golf courses, that AccuWeather lacks.

Advantage AccuWeather.

Video

Both apps feature video forecasts of local, regional, and national weather forecasts. However, AccuWeather makes you watch a short commercial before their forecasts.

Advantage The Weather Channel.

Other Features

Both have to ability to save multiple locations for quick switching, and both have severe weather alerts. AccuWeather has a few extras, including a graphic displaying severe weather potential for the next 8 hours as well as something called Weather Alarm.

Advantage AccuWeather.

Conclusion

While AccuWeather is better looking and has more of a Mac-feel to its interface, The Weather Channel app trumps it by offering more essential information in an easy-to-access manner. The Weather Channel is a free download in the iTunes App Store.

Name: The Weather Channel
Developer: The Weather Channel Interactive
Version Reviewed: 1.0.1
Price: Free
Download:

Name: AccuWeather
Developer: AccuWeather, Inc.
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Price: Free
Download: