You know the frustration: your weather app promises 25 minutes before rain starts, then you’re soaked three minutes later. Or you get a tornado warning alert but have no idea if you have 30 seconds or 30 minutes to get to shelter.
You’ve scrolled through hundreds of weather apps wondering what you should actually use. Should you trust the National Weather Service’s website or The Weather Channel’s app? Maybe you’re willing to juggle a handful of different weather apps for different situations, but you don’t know where to start.
That’s where Forecast Fan comes in.
Why Most Weather Apps Fall Short
Weather apps are either built for meteorologists who want every technical detail, or they’re so simplified they’re unreliable. There’s a massive gap for people who just want accurate, useful weather information without the complexity. Or, simply, they’re tired of getting caught in unexpected downpours.
Hi, I’m Jake. I’m a weather nerd with a meteorology degree who chose a different path…I’m now a data analyst in education technology. This gives me a unique perspective (not to toot my own horn): I understand the science but live in the real world of everyday weather decisions. I’ve been obsessed with weather apps and technology for 25 years, starting in middle school with a weather station on top of my house and a NOAA weather radio. While my career took a different direction, I still love seeing the tech evolve in this industry.
Welcome to Forecast Fan, your new resource for navigating the universe of weather apps, websites, and tools, specifically designed for people who are not meteorologists. My mission is simple: help you get the weather information you need, and then get going…there’s too much life to live to have your nose stuck in a weather app!
What You Can Look Forward To
- Weather app reviews written with everyday users in mind, not meteorologists
- Best-of guides like “best weather apps for road trips”
- Latest news about weather apps adding new features
- Occasional weather gear reviews, like weather stations or weather radios
Coming up first: RadarScope, RadarOmega, and Hello Weather reviews in the next few days!
What Forecast Fan Has Looked Like for the Past Year
A bit of behind-the-scenes: I’ve gone through numerous iterations of plans for this site. I worked for months on supersized SEO, the perfect logo, lead generation ideas for future monetization, a killer social media plan, future YouTube expansion, and so on. It was fun to dream about being a big influencer.
Then, I got burnt out before I even published the first review. The threat of AI stealing my traffic, the incredibly low chance of ever making decent money, and the time involved to create a business plan stole my thunder, pun intended.
So What Now?
Now, I’m shedding most of that complexity and focusing on the original mission: to bring high-quality weather app content to you, not to squeeze a penny out of your data. I’m going to focus on being myself, bringing you content that’s interesting to me and hopefully you, and worry about paying the bills later. I think this will serve both me and you much better in the long run.
Things will be simple here. There are plenty of places for technical meteorology discussion. This is a place to skip that complexity and the squeaky-clean polish from TV meteorologists (while I fully respect them). I want to give you easy, accurate advice to plan for the weather, so you can get your nose off your phone and back to your loved ones.
Up next, you’ll see some reviews I spent a ton of time on to maximize SEO. The content was good, but it feels a bit too polished and contrived. Some of the first posts may seem super SEO-centered, but that, like everything else, will evolve as we figure out the sweet spot of being reliable while being authentic.
You Can Help Shape Forecast Fan!
What questions do you have about weather apps? How often do you check the weather? Do you have an app or tool that you love or hate? I want to hear from you! Leave a comment below, or email me at hello@forecastfan.com.