Francesca Simon, known for her Horrid Henry books, is a self-proclaimed weather app enthusiast. She frequently checks the weather not only for her current location but for places where her friends and family live, and even destinations from past holidays.
With ten locations monitored, her friends tease her about her “weather porn” habit, but Simon admits she checks multiple apps if the forecast isn’t to her liking.
Simon recently discovered she shares this obsession with Queen Camilla, who also discussed her weather app fixation at a charity event.
Their shared interest highlights a broader trend: many people are similarly obsessed with weather apps.
Weather apps provide detailed forecasts and influence daily decisions, from clothing to safety precautions.These apps are essential for those planning vacations, barbecues, gardening, or dealing with hay fever, providing detailed, localized forecasts including wind speeds and rain probabilities.
The weather app industry is thriving, with global revenue in 2022 estimated at $1.58 billion, mainly from advertising.
A YouGov poll revealed that 53% of Americans rely on apps for weather updates, with 20% checking multiple times daily. Older users tend to check more frequently.
Specialized apps, like Windy for wind conditions or the Met Office’s beach and mountain forecasts, cater to specific needs. The Met Office’s app, launched in 2010 and updated in 2016, now has around 6.2 million users, with usage peaking during severe weather events.
The BBC, after initially using its weather app, switched to DTN (formerly MeteoGroup) in 2013 for more accurate forecasting.
As climate change makes weather more unpredictable, reliance on these apps is likely to increase. Weather apps not only influence daily decisions but also provide critical information for safety and business operations.