The Weather Channel App – 5 Tips and Tricks to get the best experience



There are so many different weather apps available on the App Store that it can be really tough to pick. Almost every app offers a different experience from the next, but it’s tough to trust the reliability of the information.

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When it comes to an app like The Weather Channel, it’s a service and channel that everyone has heard of. Regardless of whether it’s from “back in the day” when you would just turn it on to see what the weather would be, or to using the app, everyone has used TWC at some point.

Back in 2018, the company unveiled an all-new update to the application which saw a complete redesign. Over time, the developers have continued to add new features, turning this into your one-stop shop for all things weather related.


How to set up real-time alerts

A big feature for those who care about the weather is getting real-time alerts. This will let you know, within minutes, whether you can expect some type of precipitation in the area. With The Weather Channel app, you can set up and customize these alerts to your liking.

Manage Alerts The Weather Channel App

  1. Open The Weather Channel app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap the Alert Bell icon in the top right-hand corner
  3. Select Manage

From here, you are given options for the following alerts:

  • Significant Weather
  • Change Ahead
  • Real-Time Rain
  • Lightning Strikes
  • Government Issued Alerts
  • Breaking News
  • Daily Rain/Snow Alerts
  • Pollen


After you have reached this portion of the interface, you can go through and enable each option. Tapping each section takes you to another panel with a simple “on/off” toggle switch that you can turn on or off.

Plan ahead with Radar

It’s all fine and dandy for your weather app to tell you that rain or precipitation is on the way. However, it’s rather difficult with just that information as to where the storm is heading. That’s why The Weather Channel implemented the dedicated Radar section.

This allows you to view a time-lapse of weather in your area, based on wherever you are at. Or you can tap the search button in the title area of the page (above the radar itself) to look for a specific location.


The Weather Channel Radar

The Weather Channel App even sports integration with Siri. Meaning that you can say a catch phrase to Siri, and have the Radar information presented to you easily. Here’s how to set that up:

  1. Open the Weather Channel app on your iPhone
  2. Tap the Radar section at the bottom
  3. Tap on the Add to Siri button
  4. Set the shortcut name
  5. Tap Add to Siri

When looking at the Radar itself, you are provided with a blue dot in the middle of the map. This simply gives you your currently location, and you can pinch to zoom or pinch out to change the area.

In the middle of the page, there is a timeline, showing you what the precipitation looks like up to 6 hours into the future. Tapping on the rewind icon on the left, lets you go back in time to see what the weather pattern looked like leading up to now.

Adjust Radar Layers

One icon we failed to mention before was the Radar Layers button. This is found to the right of the timeline and gives you more fine-tuned control over what you see on the Radar maps.

The Weather Channel Radar Layer Settings

These range from animation speeds, to Clouds, Temperature, “Feels Like”, and even the UV Index. Then, there’s another tab, named Features, which gives you options for the following:

  • Map Style
    • Light
    • Satellite
    • Dark
  • Road Visibility
    • Road Above Weather
    • Road Below Weather
  • Commute & Travel Forecasts
    • Commute
    • Travel

Tapping any of these will adjust how your radar looks. Plus, you get a live preview at the top, showing you what the Radar will now look like after the changes have been made.

After you have made all of your changes and adjustments, just tap the back arrow icon in the top left-hand corner. All of your changes are automatically saved, as you make them from the Layers panel.

View Health risks in your area with ease

Sometimes it’s not enough to just know how the weather will progress throughout the day. In some cases, you want to know different pieces of information that aren’t readily available from other competing weather apps.

The Weather Channel App changes all of that with its “home screen”. Tap the blue icon at the bottom of any page, and you are taken to the main home screen for the app.

Obviously, you are provided with the regular bits of information like the upcoming forecast. But there are additional features for up-to-date news reports about different weather-related situations.

TWC Extra Details

Scroll down even further, and there’s a section for “Today’s Details”. This section includes the following pieces of info:

  • Sunrise/Sunset
  • Wind
  • Humidity
  • Dew Point
  • Pressure
  • UV Index

Scrolling past the familiar Radar & Maps section brings you to the Health & Activities area. From here, you can see even more information about what’s going on in your area:

  • Flu Risk
  • Allergy
  • Running
  • Boat & Beach

Tapping each section gives you predictions of what the weather will be look moving forward. For example, the app shows an “Extended 15-day Flu Forecast” showing the risk in your area.

The Running section takes advantage of the “GoRun Index” providing information about how weather will affect your run. Each hour (or day) is provided with a number ranking, ranging from 1 to 10. This will give you an idea of whether you should strap on your Nike’s, or just take a break for the day.

How to “Go Premium” with The Weather Channel

So many apps nowadays are heading to a subscription model, removing the need to purchase up front. The Weather Channel is no different, offering the ability to unlock a few other features not available in the “free” version. Here’s what you get:

  • Remove ads
  • Get 15 minute forecasts
  • Provided access to 96 hours of weather data
  • Receive exclusive map layers

TWC Premium

In the event that all of those features sound like something you want, here’s how to sign up for the Premium subscription:

  1. Open The Weather Channel app on your iPhone or iPad
  2. Tap the Gear icon in the top right-hand corner
  3. Select Go Premium
  4. Choose your subscription
  5. Confirm your choice

If you have already subscribed with your Apple ID previously, there is a Restore Purchase button at the bottom. This will activate the App Store and will restore your subscriptions. As a note, there are two subscriptions available; $0.99 per month or $9.99 per year.


Weather Channel App crashing or freezing?

Regardless of the developer, applications go through growing pains as new updates and features are released. The Weather Channel app is no different, as many users have been reporting issues after recent updates. Here are a few options that you can pursue:

Make sure that your app is updated to the latest version

Update Apps iPhone

  1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad
  2. Tap your Apple ID profile image in the top right-hand corner
  3. Scroll down and tap Update All
  4. If an update is available, it will be downloaded automatically

Toggle location access

TWC Location Settings

  1. Open The Weather Channel app on your iPhone or iPad
  2. Tap the Gear icon in the top left-hand corner
  3. Select Location Settings
  4. Scroll down and select The Weather Channel
  5. Tap Location
  6. Select Never
  7. Exit the Weather Channel app
  8. Go back to Settings and toggle your preferred location access

Check and toggle your notification settings

Manage Alerts The Weather Channel App

  1. Open The Weather Channel app on your iPhone or iPad
  2. Tap the Gear icon in the top left-hand corner
  3. Select My Alerts
  4. Tap Manage
  5. Go through your list and toggle the pertinent notifications off and then back on.
  6. Close and restart the application

Delete and re-install

Delete The Weather Channel App

  1. Locate The Weather Channel App on your home screen
  2. Press and hold the icon to bring up the menu
  3. Tap Delete App
  4. Press Delete
  5. Open the App Store
  6. Search for The Weather Channel
  7. Re-download the app by tapping the cloud icon

If you are on the latest app version and have tried deleting and re-installing the app but still experiencing issues, you may want to reach out to the app developer. Also check out Apple’s guidance around this issue.

Conclusion

The Weather Channel App combines beauty and brains with a wonderful experience. You can get up-to-the-minute notifications and alerts for all kinds of situations. Plus, you can get an idea to see if there’s a flu “outbreak” in your area to plan accordingly.

If you have any other tips and tricks, or have run into any other issues, let us know! We’ll be sure to help out, or add solutions/tips to the list above! If you don’t use The Weather Channel app, sound off in the comments and let us know your favorite weather app.

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