What is Reddit's opinion of
RadarScope?
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Popularity Score: 41
This app was mentioned in 51 comments, with an average of 2.90 upvotes
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I use RadarScope. I live in Northern Oklahoma and it's invaluable when the weather really gets nasty. It's a professional level app, used by government and media outlets. We used it on the job this last spring during the multiple severe outbreaks and flooding, it helped us make safety decisions for us and the public.
It is a paid app, and then has a pretty reasonable annual subscription price. I think it's $10 for the app. If you want more details and info there is a Pro subscription for another $10 annually. Worth every penny.
If you need or want something with less horsepower MyRadar is a fantastic app with plenty of info and detail.
If you're referring to radar for your smartphone/tablet, it's not a free radar program but RadarScope is the best out there by far. I think it's about $9.99 CAD on the app store/Google play. If you live in the states, it's already integrated with the dual polarized radars that are active across the country, so you get reflectivity and velocity products, CC, precipitation depiction, etc., and if you're in Canada, all of Environment Canada's radars are connected to the software. You can also add your spotter network ID into it to show your position via GPS. If you want a quality application, RadarScope is where it's at! You can also subscribe to radarscope pro. It's $~11 CAD/year and you get lightning data, extra frames to playback, etc. I've attached the link to the app below.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope
Radarscope. It's amazing if you know how to take advantage of it. I'm still learning some of it, but it can give you way more info than your typical radar app.
I'm friends with a bunch of meteorologists and they all recommend radarscope. It isn't cheap though so that could be prohibitive.
Unfortunately I feel it takes 2 apps if you want the best. Radar Scope is head and shoulders above the competition as far as a weather radar goes. You can basically do everything the meteorologists on TV are doing with their radar on it. I was tracking the wind velocity of the tornado faster than they showed it on TV.
For just the forecast and current/future temps, wind, rain, etc I use NOAA Weather Unofficial App
Radar data is pretty hard to do on a watch. It pretty much requires a server or phone app between the radar source and the watch. The server/phone app would need to fetch the radar data, reinterpret and compress it and then send it to the watch.
I use Radarscope, which is the most popular radar app among meteorologist and storm chasers. It's a bit pricey at $9.99, but it has a Wear companion for radar. I hardly used the Wear companion though, as the app on the phone still has to compress and send the radar data to the watch. Takes too long, it's just faster for me to whip out my phone and check it.
I'm curious what problems you've had with WeatherBug. I've found it's still the weather app I prefer the most for these reasons:
- noaa weather alerts as push notifications, and I can customize the audio
- forecast and current weather are about as reliable as anything else for the mid term
- uses local weather station data, which for me has been reliable
Beyond that, I keep RadarScope handy on my phone and tablet because it's awesome.
Also been trying out InstaWeather for Wear - it's purdy.
I'm always looking for better solutions (I love wunderground, but not their android app). Killer thing for me seems to be the push weather alerts and the custom sound for it.
For Doppler radar images, I cannot recommend Radarscope enough. It's a paid app, but it's worth it as you get access to high resolution level 2 radar data as well as the full suite of technical products, tilt angles, and support for the crowd sourced mPing system that shows a real time map of where events like flooding or wind damage or fog are being reported. I personally know professional metrologists that use this app for everything from storm chasing to daily personal usage. Also, this is the only weather app I've found that displays Doppler radar velocity data, which is crucial when you live in a tornado prone area like I do.
For general forecasts, I found Windy to be serviceable. It's free, there are loads and loads of neat data views available, and you can compare the different forecast models on the fly. My only gripe is the lack of a persistent notification for temperature at a glance, but I read that is a planned feature.
I doubt it. If you chase storms you need a lot more detailed radar information that comes at a cost. The one I've heard being used is called RadarScope and is $10.
I use RadarScope for Android. It's $10/year (there's a tier 2 for $99/year).
It's the best radar app I've found. I don't understand 2/3 of the settings (much of it is geared towards meteorologists and storm chasers) but it works great at a glance to give you a heads up when rain is about to hit.
Check out Radarscope It's is a fantastic radar app. It will track big storm cells and give projected path and time of arrival. I pay $9.99/year, but that's for real time lightening. I think it might be a one time purchase for it without lighting. There's also a shit ton of layers and settings that I don't have a clue what they mean.
I use RadarScope, and I prefer the paid version ($10). Radar returns look good on the phone screen, and I need the ability to easily find and switch to other cities' radar for travel.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope
You might be new to reddit, seems like you meant to reply to comment, but instead just replied to your article.
A meteorologist friend suggested this app. Otherwise if you don't want to pay $10 the free Weather Channel app is great for basic radar imagery and warnings.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope&hl=en_US
Radarscope it's $10 but it is the best radar you will get on the store. It let's you look at NEXRAD Level 3 Radar. Radarscope
Here are the links of the app:
iOS: https://appsto.re/us/t3omr.i Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope&hl=en
It cost $9.99, but stay safe out there for those who live in NE Houston area!
What app is that? I use RadarScope https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope&hl=en it has a ton of very useful features and a pro option to get more frames rendered as well as lightning data. I use it to keep my storm spotter gps coordinates updated and a ton of other things. I also use PYKL3 if I need a different set of radar data but most of the time I use Radar Scope.
Yeah, you can get apps like RadarScope and interpret the publically available data yourself if you want to. But you should watch a meteorologist if you want to hear a scientist's professional opinion on what the data actually says.
AccuWeather is fine for a general overview, but Walmart is fine for most things, too. If you want higher quality, specialized knowledge and gear, you don't go to a supermarket.
Hopping on the "the best weather X is" bandwagon to point out Radarscope for Android and for iOS is bar none the best radar app out there. Pricey and is focused on showing a single radar at a time but if you like to geek out on weather it is pretty amazing.
KEYE was using it on air during the last round of storms.
If you just want to see radar in the highest resolution possible, this answer deserves gold. RadarScope is $10 and it's available for iOS/Android/OS X. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/radarscope/id288419283?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope&hl=en
However for generic weather information (real-time temperature, forecast conditions/temperature, etc.), this is very far from the right answer. I'd suggest Weather Underground, though as others have pointed out they are now owned by the Weather Channel.
Just got a nice soaking near Baseline/Val Vista. Also looks liked it kicked off a nice outflow that could affect the west valley in a little while. The atmosphere is ripe for storm development over the valley right now.
More Useful Links
- NWS Area Forecast Discussions - Updated several times per day with analyses and insights on expected weather patterns for the day.
- RadarScope - Hands down the best radar app for mobile devices.
- iembot - Real time display of all products generated by local NWS offices. Warnings, storm reports, significant weather advisories, forecast discussions, all of it.
The following screen shots are from tonight's storms out in the Texas panhandle. Both RadarScope and Pykl3 are available on Android and RadarScope is available on Win10 and IOS too. Both are very good, both have very accurate, high resolution radar data. Pykl3 is great if you want to HIGHLY customize how the map looks. RadarScope is great if you want a "out of the box" clean and crisp looking radar with little configuration. Both cost ~$10 US (iirc) and they are worth every penny.
Apps:
Radar Scope (IOS/Android/Win10)
Pykl3 (Pronounced pickle)
Models/Forecasting:
- http://www.pivotalweather.com/ (free)
- http://weather.cod.edu/ (free)
- https://www.spc.noaa.gov/ (free)
- http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/#page=ovw (free)
- http://www.hazwx.com/ ($)
Day-of/Chasing/Nowcasting:
- https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES/sectors_index.php (satellite)
- https://www.spc.noaa.gov/
- Mesoscale Discussions
- Watches
- Mesoanalysis (RAP + Surface Obs)
- Soundings (Balloons!)
- Anyone of the aforementioned forecasting model websites above for HRRR model data.
Other useful websites:
- http://www.mob-rule.com/gmap (Google Maps + Counties)
- Here in OK we have http://www.mesonet.org/ , I've found that some states have similar mesonet websites. It's good for some surface obs.
- https://www.simuawips.com/ ($) Model data, radar, Lightning, Obs and Satellite all in one package.
Research/EDU:
- http://theweatherprediction.com/
- https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/spcousom/
- https://www.meted.ucar.edu/index.php
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkB7RBehEqHvsD60C1yfAAg (Skip Talbot)
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJPhUKf1a0Afkxh-9eXxzrQ (Tornado Titans)
- http://stormandsky.com/stormanalysis101.html
- http://www.weathergraphics.com/chasing/ (book)
edit:
At this time I'm not paying for HazWX nor simuawips. I primarily use Pivotal for my forecasts, but any of those will work just fine. I like the UI on COD for the HRRR and a few other models. I mostly use SPC mesoanalysis for surface obs and MDs.
I run both Pykl3 and RadarScope, both work great. Pykl3 has a ton of customizable features, RadarScope has almost everything I need "out of the box".
Storm Analysis 101 is dry, but I cannot stress how well the information is presented. I do not regret paying $30 for the blu-ray. Met-ED is laid out in a online class-room style and is pretty good. Talbot has some fantastic YT content. If you haven't already, attend a SKYWARN spotter program too.
Using forecasting tools that are appropriate for your window of flying opportunity can help you make better flying choices. Here are a few for you:
- Use a better RADAR app to view current info on a loop. I highly recommend RadarScope (Apple/Android/Windows)
- High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) - This simulates all kinds of things, but in this case I used simulated reflectivity for you. Basically a forecast of what the RADAR might look like. Updates every hour. I have no idea why this model isn't more widely used by pilots in flight training - it's exactly the timeframe that flights in a local area <3hrs would need to get a better weather picture.
- Zoom out and look at the synoptic scale (aka multi-state-view-level) weather for an understanding of why your local/mesoscale weather is what it is. For example, is it foggy out? Maybe there's a stationary front over you. Is it an easterly wind? Perhaps a ridge has built in over the Atlantic. Those will tell you if what weather you see right now is likely to change soon, or maybe not anytime soon at all. Can help you make a better go/no-go decision. Some tools to determine this are Surface Charts, GOES Imagery, and Prog Charts - commonly all found in the Imagery tab in ForeFlight.
Here it is on Google Play. Worth every penny.
its called Radar Scope: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope&hl=en_CA&gl=US
Knowing basic meteorology should be included in any pilot program and should be the first thing a pilot looks at before planning a flight. Here are a few essential topics. Understanding low/high-pressure systems and what type of hazards are associated with each, understanding and reading METARs and TAFs, encode/decode a PIREP, turbulence, and icing. Before take-off, look over the local weather from the National Weather Service and read over their TAFs and discussions; look over satellite and radar for any systems upstream of your location that is coming your way.
NWS is your friend. They have sites all over the CONUS and will be your regional experts. They issue watches and warnings well in advance of any potentially severe conditions and offer many resources.
Here is a guide for pilots on all the NWS products available and how to use them.
https://www.weather.gov/media/aviation/A%20Pilots%20Guide%20to%20Aviation%20Weather%20Services.pdf
The Aviation Weather Bible, published by The FAA which has almost everything about the dynamics of weather.
https://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac_00-6b.pdf
Here are two sites with everything you would need for TAFs/METARs
https://pilotinstitute.com/metar-and-taf-reports/ https://www.weather.gov/media/epz/aviation/TAF_Card.pdf
I'd also recommend signing up for the NWS interactive alerts. They will text/email you any new watches/warnings issued for whatever area you select.
Last, find a good radar app. I recommend RadarScope with the Tier 1 subscription.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope
I hope all this helps; let me know if you need any specific information.
Radarscope is worth the $10 IMO, basically raw high-resolution weather radar from NOAA stations for the US (not sure about outside the US), warnings, loops, etc; if you're at least a bit of a weather nerd and have some play credit you don't know what to do with it's a no brainer.
Package Buddy Pro - there's a free version, and if you like it then a couple of bucks to remove ads is good. I used the free version for years, when I had some credit from doing surveys I upgraded. It is an old app that hasn't been updated for years, but it's worked well for me with everything but China Post (and nothing seems to work well there, especially since you also need translation functionality if you don't read Chinese).
If you shoot precision rifles, Applied Ballistics. There's a lot of other computers (including free ones) that use the same underlying engine, but I'm not aware of any that include access to the CDMs (enhanced drag models, not just G1/G7 BCs) that AB develops.
There is no special radar for dust. Most weather radar data comes from the network of WSR-88D weather radars run by the NWS.
The dust is generally readily visible on radar as it's reflective to radar energy, particularly with the completion of the dual polarization upgrades on the radars that makes them better able to discern what types of particles they're looking at. A telltale sign is a ring out in front of the main storm front.
The NWS puts out all manner of radar products. What everyone sees on TV and in most weather apps is the base reflectivity radar product, but there are a whole host of other products that can aid in discerning what sort of conditions exist or can be expected. The big issue is that a lot of the more consumer oriented weather apps and broadcast TV show a much lower resolution composite radar view that strips out a lot of this fine detail information.
The best source for dust storms warnings is directly from the NWS. They put out the warning today well in advance. You can follow their Twitter and #azwx is also useful to monitor during weather events. Assuming you have a modernish phone, any NWS alerts should be pushed to it automatically. The NWS is trying out higher precision dust storm alerts this year, that are able to narrow it down to much more specific geographic areas that may be affected as opposed to just blanketing the whole county with an alert when only a comparatively small area is going to be affected.
As far as good apps go, have a look at Radarscope and PYKL3 Radar. Either of these apps allow you to dive more deeply into the various radar data products and look at additional radar tilts.
Maricopa County also has a good app available that pushes alerts in a timely manner and Baron Critical Weather is another good one. Also don't forget the various local media outlet apps. They're also quick to push out alerts, link to live streaming video, etc.
If you're a weather geek get RadarScope
There was a cell that formed in the south valley and moved from SW to NE over the Big I and another small cell that sprouted around Tramway and I-40 and stayed stationary before it died out. Neither produced a significant amount of rain but both put on a pretty impressive lightning show.
There are a couple of good apps to track this stuff in real time if you're a weather buff...
RadarScope and PYKL3 Radar both display all NWS Lvl 3 radar products. They're both around 10 bucks but well worth it is you want a professional level weather app.
Weather Underground is also a very good app. It's really good at displaying hyper local weather conditions owing to their large network of personal weather stations.
Everything you should need in the modern era.
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For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basevelocity.radarscope&hl=en_US&gl=US
For iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/radarscope/id288419283
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Radarscope. It's pricy for your average app, but it's the best of the best
For following current radar, RadarScope. It's what most stormchasers use. 10 bucks, though,
I was curious, too, so I did some research and found it.
It's RadarScope and it's pretty cool.
My Big List Of Interesting Weather Links
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- NWS Area Forecast Discussions
- Updated Several times per day with insights and discussions from local NWS meteorologists.
- Key takeaways from the latest discussion
- Near record precipitable water values for this time of year. This is due to remnant tropical storm moisture moving up from the south.
- Possibly enough instability to support convective thunderstorm development
- High winds possible
- Heaviest rains expected in the east valley
- GOES Satellite Viewers
- High resolution satellite imagery from the GOES 16 and 17 weather satellites in near real time. Refreshes at 5 to 1 minute intervals.
- Twitter #azwx
- AZDOT Twitter
- AZ511.com Road Conditions
- Snow is expected at higher elevations
- Maricopa County Real Time Rainfall Map
- Data provided by an extensive network of automated weather stations across the county.
- Radarscope App
- If you have a few bucks to spare and want the best weather radar app you can get for your mobile device, this is what you want.
On Android I primarily use
- RadarScope with a Tier 1 subscription for radar
- the pro version of NOAA Weather Unofficial for forecasts
- the pro version of My Lightning Tracker for nearby lightning alerts
- CoCoRaHS Observer to make my daily precip reports
Dunno if this is what you are looking for but these are most of the resources I use during severe weather.
Wunder Map - Be sure to turn on the layer for severe weather > tornado's in the side bar
County Map - Print this out and keep it next to your weather radio. In case of power outtage.
News 9 - During severe weather events, they always have excellent live web casts.
RadarScope for Android - Fast radar updates
1Weather for Android - A very simple and nicely presented weather forcast widget. Push notifications for severe events.
NOAA Storm Prediction Center - Predictive Outlooks. This is their job, it's what they do, and they do it well.
TWC Tornado Central - These guys are also very good. Pay close attention when they start talking about the Torcon Index.
Blitzortung Lightning Map - Interesting to watch during a thunderstorm.
USGS Earthquake Map - Did you feel one? Usually takes around 10 minutes to update.