Top 5 weather apps

Check out our top 5 weather apps for the iPhone, iPad, or Android smart phones. Whether avoiding tornadoes, monitoring hurricanes, preparing for snow storms, or actively looking for lightning bolts, these apps will keep you one step ahead of mother nature.

AP Photo/Reed Saxon
The sun breaks through clouds reflected in standing water as a runner passes on the oceanfront walkway on the beach at Santa Monica, Calif., after a storm front had passed. Keep these apps in mind on your next unpredictable spring day.

1. Tornado Warning and Alert App

Red Cross Website
The Tornado Watching App from the American Red Cross alerts users to storms in the area.

This free app from the American Red Cross tracks a tornado as it approaches with step-by-step advice about what to do before the storm hits. A siren warning is built into the app and goes off when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues a tornado warning in your area. There's also a customizable notification system to let friends and family know when the user is safe via social media, text, and e-mail. 

Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, and Android

Cost: Free

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