A quick look at five of the best hurricane tracking apps for Android and Apple (iOS) mobile devices.

Over the past few days we, in the Caribbean, experienced the effects of Tropical storm Chantal, the third named storm of the 2013 hurricane season. We still have just over four and a half months to go before the end of the season, and more importantly, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted for this season, a 70% probability of:

  • 13—20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher)
  • 7—11 hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher)
  • 3—6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).

To assist us to be more vigilant and safer, here are five of the best hurricane-tracking apps for Android and Apple mobile devices.

Tropical Storm Chantal (Source CNN)

Projected path of Tropical Storm Chantal through the Caribbean (Source: CNN)

 

Hurricane Hound (Source Google Play)

Hurricane Hound

Operating System:  Android

As an Android-based app, Hurricane Hound uses Google Maps to track and forecast the paths of tropical storms systems in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Basins. It also provides access to the National Weather Service (United States) forecasts, public advisories, tropical outlooks, and satellite imagery.

Developed by STKI Concepts, Hurricane Hound is available for free (as Hurricane Hound Free). An ad-free version is also available for USD 1.99, which also includes support for current radar and weather satellite overlays.

Both versions are available through Google Play, and requires Android 2.1 and up.

 

Hurricane HD

Operating System:  iOS

Hurricane HD (Source Apple)An award-wining app for Apple devices, particularly the iPad, Hurricane HD offers a comprehensive suite of features, including: storm tracking and forecasting; satellite and radio imaging; text bulletins; tracking maps; tropical outlooks and bulletins; global models; news and data feeds.

Hurricane HD is sold by Kitty Code in iTunes (or Apple’s App Store). Although a free version, with ads, is reportedly available. The more wide promoted on is paid, ad-free, option, which costs USD 3.99 in iTunes or the App Store.

Hurricane HD requires iOS 5 or later.

 

Hurricane Software (Source Google Play)Hurricane Software

Operating System:  Android

Developed by HurricaneSoftware.com, Hurricane Software provides tropical storm and hurricane data from the National Hurricane Center, high-resolution maps, satellite images, warning information and storm tracks.

Hurricane Software is a free app, which can be downloaded from Google Play, and from the developer website. A paid version of the app, Hurricane software Pro, is also available at Google Play for USD 2.99. The main difference between the two versions is the absence of ads in the latter.

Hurricane Software requires Android 2.1 and up.

 

Hurricane - American Red Cross (Source Apple)Hurricane by American Red Cross

Operating System:  Android and iOS

On award winning app, both generally and specifically for tracking tropical systems, Hurricane by the American Red Cross is available for free for both Android and iOS. With regard to the iOS version, it is compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

In addition to some of the tropical storm tracking and forecasting features, similar to the other hurricane tracking apps described above, this app has a number of other additional features to increase safety during a storm such as:

  • guidance on how to develop and execute an emergency plan, and
  • being able to issue an “I’m safe” text message, email, or Facebook or Twitter alert.

For successful installation, this app requires Android 2.1 and up, or iOS 5 or later.

 

Weather Channel (Source Google Play)Weather Channel

Operating System:  Android and iOS

Linked to the Weather Channel, this app is available for free for both Android and iOS ( and is iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad compatible).  Unlike the previous apps that focus, almost exclusively, on tracking  and preparing for hurricanes and tropical storms, the Weather Channel app provides information on the weather year round, including:

    • detailed weather conditions and forecasts
    • Severe weather push alerts & badges, and
    • localized maps

The Weather Channel app requires Android 2.1 and up, or iOS 6 or later for successful installation

 

 

Image credits:  CNN;  Google Play;  Apple iTunes

___________