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Many apps warn of severe weather; some also send alerts for flooding, high water, and other hazards. Here are five apps you should know about.
1. WarnWetter Severe Weather App
The WarnWetter app from the German Weather Service is one of the most popular severe weather apps.
- The app provides a detailed overview of the current weather situation.
- When you open the app, you’ll see a map of Germany that clearly highlights current weather warnings using color-coding.
- You can select specific locations or let the app pinpoint your location using GPS. This gives you precise information on temperature, frost, and much more.
- You’ll receive push notifications warning you of precipitation, thunderstorms, snow, severe weather, or icy conditions. In addition to standard weather warnings, you’ll also get information on flooding, storm surges, and avalanches.
- If you’d like to use additional features, such as a rain radar or satellite images, these are only available in the paid version. This can be purchased as a one-time in-app purchase for 1.99 euros (as of February 2022).
2. NINA – the BBK app
The free app from the BBK (Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance), “NINA,” also alerts you to severe weather.
- The app isn’t limited to severe weather but also covers other emergencies such as floods, traffic disruptions, or fires.
- When you open the app, you can share your location to receive relevant information. Alternatively, you can add locations using the search bar.
- You can also view an overview of current hazard situations in Germany via the “Map” tab.
- In the settings, you can configure push notifications for severe weather.
- Under “Weather Alerts,” you’ll find the options “Significant Weather,” “Severe Weather,” and “Extreme Weather.”
- This way, you won’t be caught off guard by severe weather, and you’ll receive important advice via the “Emergency Tips” section if you find yourself in an emergency situation. Starting with version 3.3.x, the app also provides information on local COVID-19 regulations at the county level, provided you’ve subscribed to the relevant location in the app.
3. KATWARN – Disaster Alerts
With the KATWARN app from the Fraunhofer Institute, you can receive disaster alerts in up to eight cities simultaneously.
- It not only warns of severe weather but also of other hazards such as fires or natural disasters like earthquakes or floods.
- When you open the app, you can specify the locations that are important to you.
- You’ll then receive alerts for these locations, along with instructions on what to do in an emergency.
- You can also set up alerts to be notified if you enter a dangerous area.
- Unfortunately, the app hasn’t always worked reliably so far. Users have reported receiving alerts even when they weren’t in a high-risk area.
4. Wetter Online – Comprehensive Weather Forecast
Wetter Online is an app best known for its accurate weather forecasts. The app also features a severe weather alert function that notifies you of extreme weather conditions via push notifications.
- When you open the app, you can let it determine your location via GPS or use the search function to specify the locations that are important to you.
- Once you’ve entered a location, you’ll see today’s weather forecast at the top. Further down, you’ll find a weather radar and a 14-day forecast.
- You can also view water temperatures and pollen count information.
- If you open the settings via the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, you can enable severe weather alerts.
- To do this, click “Enable” under the “Severe Weather Alerts” section. Then select the location for which you want notifications to be enabled.
- The app is funded by advertising. However, it offers three subscription plans—Pro, Premium, and Business—which, among other things, allow you to remove ads.
- The app stands out primarily for its comprehensive features, though this also makes the interface a bit cluttered. The severe weather alerts are also tucked away in the settings. Once activated, however, you’ll be reliably informed about upcoming severe weather.
5. wetter.com – 16-Day Weather Forecast
The Wetter.com app forecasts the weather for 16 days.
- Once you’ve selected a location, you can view the weather for the next two and a half weeks.
- The app also features a rain and cloud radar that visualizes the weather.
- Under the “Severe Weather Alerts” section, you can view the current situation in Germany regarding severe weather.
- Severe weather alerts for your selected location are enabled by default. To check this, tap “Push Notifications” in the settings.
- Here, under the “Weather Alerts” section, the toggle should be turned on. If you tap it once, you can specify the thresholds at which you want to be alerted.
- This allows you to set the severity levels—such as for hail or storms—at which you want to be notified.
- The app stands out especially for its specific warning levels. The app’s design looks a bit outdated. But if that doesn’t bother you, Wetter.com is a very good severe weather alert app.
