Apple Weather and Snow: What's Behind the Forecast?

[MacRumors]

A major storm system is expected to deliver significant snowfall and freezing rain across more than half of the United States this weekend, with winter weather alerts in effect in cities like Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Indianapolis, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Washington D.C., and others.

On the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, the Apple Weather app has forecasted up to two feet of snowfall in some cities, which has led to a lot of discussion about the app and how its forecasts can sometimes significantly differ from other weather providers.

The New York Times today reported on the topic. First, it said "many weather apps" show the results from a single forecast model, whereas meteorologists will often look at many models. Second, it noted that meteorologists caution that it can be difficult to forecast specific precipitation amounts several days in advance of a storm.

As this system approaches, snowfall estimates shown in the Apple Weather app have decreased in many cities compared to what was originally forecasted, but the amounts remain significant in many areas. Other cities may experience freezing rain, sleet, or a wintry mix, and the weather could cause power outages in some locations.

Apple Weather Data Sources


In 2020, Apple acquired the popular weather app Dark Sky, and it has since integrated the app's features and hyperlocal forecasts into the Apple Weather app. In a support document, however, Apple says that it still gathers at least some weather data from sources including the U.S. National Weather Service, The Weather Channel, and others.

Severe Weather and Next-Hour Precipitation Notifications


In the U.S., you can receive severe weather and next-hour precipitation notifications on your iPhone by opening the Apple Weather app, tapping on the list icon in the bottom-right corner, tapping on the three dots in the top-right corner, selecting Notifications, and turning on both types of notifications under Current Location.

Article Link: Apple Weather and Snow: What's Behind the Forecast?

 

[MacUserFella]

Forget Apple Intelligence and Liquid Glass, Apple needs to shift all focus into fixing the Weather app

 

[DanielPrice]

Someone's clutching at straws to link snowfall to Apple 😅🤣

 

[rappr]

Why is the Apple Weather app forecasting so much snow ahead of a major snow storm? Really? 🤦‍♂️

 

[dannyyankou]

As someone who tracks storms as a hobby, it's predicting so much snow because that's literally what the models are showing. Air will be super cold too, so snow will be fluffier and pile up more.

As an example, here are the snowfall amounts that the latest run of the Global Forecast System model is showing-

As for the snowfall amounts in the app decreasing, there has been a noticeable northward shift in the models the past couple days. This is bringing slightly warmer air to certain cities in the south, decreasing the snowfall totals and falling as freezing rain or sleet instead.

 

[Jamie0003]

Someone's clutching at straws to link snowfall to Apple 😅🤣

Basically MR in a nutshell lol

 

[swingerofbirch]

The Weather app on the Mac is beautiful and thorough, and I really wish you could use it with third party providers because the accuracy is just terrible in Southern California. Apple Weather is always the outlier compared to every other service, and by a fairly good margin. It always predicts and reports much higher temps than it should.

 

[edenorchestra]

The weather looks so good, but its forecast are marginal. Today we are expecting 16" of snow in W. PA, Apple says .85", I have to "move" about 100 miles away to get a real number. Most other apps out there that I check have it right. Come on Apple, come on.

 

[jimlat]

As a degreed meteorologist, I’ve seen that all of the weather apps use the raw model output with minimal human analysis before the forecast is posted. That’s why we also get the whiplash snowfall amounts as each new model run comes out, especially in the long end of the forecast range.

 

[rictus007]

Why is the Apple Weather app forecasting so much snow ahead of a major snow storm? Really? 🤦‍♂️

Some perspective… where I live predict right now +24” of snow and the American and European model predict something around 12-16”. More conservative models just 10”. I let you know on Monday. One of my neighbors reports snow levels to the NWS

 

[AltecX]

Googles weather also shows similar numbers.

 

[hieranonymous]

Breaking news: Apple Weather predicts weather.

 

[platinumaqua]

Apple Weather hasn't been accurate for me in California. Predicted no rain when it actually rains and vice versa. weather.gov has been more accurate.

 

[DHagan4755]

Apple shouldn't have branched out to weather, news, sports, TV shows, movies, etc. The do-everything mentality leads to becoming mediocre at everything.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

It isn't just iWeather, AccuWeather is also predicting a lot of snow.

 

[Astuces iOS]

We got at the point where Macrumors became a Weather website !

 

[jayducharme]

I rely more on NOAA weather. Apple's Weather app predictions have been wildly unreliable for me. There have been so many times when it shows rain currently pouring down in my area when there's bright sunshine or vice-versa. It doesn't seem to localize properly.

 

[Rogifan]

The snow totals match the temperature forecast where I live. 😀

 

[DougieS]

Apple Weather forecasted 12 inches of snow the other week in UK, we got about 3.
Accuracy of Apple Weather feels like it gets worse and worse, whereas Dark Sky used to be very reliable. Hope they can fix it soon.

 

[kenta_]

Breaking news: Apple Weather predicts weather.

Breaking news: Apple Weather app is usually inaccurate.

 

[Böhme417]

I don't know how they can say they get some of the weather information from The Weather Channel when they are often wildly different than TWC forecasts. This weekend is a prime example. Apple Weather shows a much higher chance of precipitation and for much longer than TWC. The temps are also different by as much as 10 °F.

 

[the 12th Doctor]

Got 2 feet last week. While it was dumping down I asked my homepod the weather. “Looking cloudy today.”

“Is it supposed to snow today?”

There is no snow in the forecast.

 

[impaler]

Weather models are difficult to accurate depict all the time. I don't understand how a weather prediction based on models nearly a week out should be taken by gospel six days later. Relax, folks. Bottom line: Expect snow and prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.

 

[budselectjr]

Is Apple really to blame if they just outsourced(like everything else at the company) the weather by acquiring Dark Sky?

 

[DocMultimedia]

Carrot let's you pick your source. Things are similar.... Lots of snow. Using the main model sites online are of course better. Five of the six primary models predict lots and lots for this Sunday. Just hope I don't lose power for the playoffs.