wX is a free, no-ads, and open-source (GNU GPLv3) advanced weather application that is geared towards storm chasers, meteorologists, and weather enthusiasts. NWS (National Weather Service) data is optimized for mobile format and provided for divisions not normally covered together in the mobile space: SPC, WPC, NHC, OPC, etc. Level 3 and Level 2 Nexrad radar (single, dual, quad pane) are provided and displayed using the mobile variant of OpenGL. This weather app is not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
The app is available for Android (with the name wX), on iOS (wXL23), for GTK (wxgtk) and for desktop (wxqt).
If you only need current conditions and your local 7 day forecast then this app is probably more then you need although it will easily provide those 2 things as well. If you are looking for wasted screen real estate or fancy graphics this app is not for you. Given the depth of information covered there is a steep learning curve if you seek to use the program in it's entirety, help information is available and touched on below. Common weather acronyms are used throughout so you should be familiar with those as well. Currently United States locations are supported.
HELP is available from the main menu and by tapping on any text in the settings activities.
- Current forecast, 7 day conditions, sounding data for an unlimited number of locations from NWS.
- Customizable home screen
- (Android only) Tiles can be rearranged by long press and then drag and drop on Tabs: SPC, MISC, and IMAGES
- OpenGL based Nexrad radar interface with numerous options. Level 2 in the lowest tilt for base reflectivity/velocity is also available. 2 pane and 4 pane version also available in MISC tab.
- Optimized text product viewer for easy access to AFD,HWO and others from any NWS WFO.
- Vis/IR/WV/Radar mosaic viewer (with animations).
- Widgets (nexrad radar, radar mosaic, vis, afd/hwo)
- SPC products (such as Watches/MCDs/Convective Outlooks/Mesoanalysis)
- WPC products
- Weather models
- NHC products
(Android only) Notifications:
- Local alerts
- MCDs impacting your location
- MPDs impacting your location
- Convective outlooks for your location
- US MCD/Watches
- US tornadoes
- US MCD
- US MPD
- NHC Atlantic and EPAC advisories
Requirements: Android 4.1 or higher with 1GB of memory at a minimum (recommended).
Access required: App needs access to Your Location, Network Communication, Systems tools (run at start-up for alerts).
dqbay added wX as alternative to Meteodays.com
sebastianpaczoski added wX as alternative to Weather - By Xiaomi and Meteored
wxwiseapp added wX as alternative to WeatherWise
Comments and Reviews
LOTS of data. The data is presented in a mostly logical manner, and customization is available. The radar viewer is probably the best I have used, and I think better than the NWS's radar.
This is not a simple weather app, but it can be used as one. If you just want to check the forecast it can do it, but there is a whole lot more to this app.
Radar composites are a weak point in this app. However it offers granular control of individual radars, offering more options than many people realize are available. The radar data doesn't have all the smoothing that other weather providers put on it. This makes the data more useful in my opinion.
If you are a storm spotter or weather need, this is a great app.