I’ve tried different Android Auto weather apps – these 3 are perfect for storm nerds like me

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Highlights taken by ZDNET

• You have several options for Android Auto weather apps.
• The two main options provide more in-depth information than the default.
• MyRadar has one more feature that makes it my top choice.

Android Auto has a deep list of useful apps that you probably haven’t downloaded yet, but there’s one area where it’s surprisingly limited — weather. If you’ve ever experienced a major storm on a road trip, or, or seen ominous clouds gathering in the sky before your commute, you know how helpful an understanding of the weather can be.

I’m a weather enthusiast, and I like to look at radar and forecasts even if I don’t expect storms to have a direct impact on my day. When I tried to see what apps I could add to my car’s screen for easy access, however, I was disappointed.

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I only found two main options: MyRadar and Weather & Radar. There are a few other options that don’t have full Android Auto integration, some additional apps for the confusingly named but different Android Automotive, and of course, you can mirror your phone to show any app.

After testing both apps for about a week, I found both to be useful, but one had a few features that set it apart. If you’re looking for the best weather app for Android Auto, here are my picks.

MyRadar

The MyRadar app is not only the best weather app for Android Auto; it’s also one of the most robust weather apps I’ve ever used. It’s as easy to use as any other weather app, but it provides more information. At its core, it’s a radar app that lets you see live weather radar for your area or any other location you’re searching, making it a useful tool for tracking upcoming storms. The real value in this app goes beyond basic radar.

The default map is flat or spherical, showing rainfall and storm force, but you can draw several other maps, such as road, air, or terrain. The layers menu allows you to add a variety of options, including air quality, winds, clouds, boundaries, weather patterns, and even videos from storm runners.

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Most of the apps are free, but a few features are premium. My favorite of these is RouteCast, which shows predictive weather conditions for your entire route, not just where you are now. You can enter the starting point and the destination, and you will see what the weather will be like along the way.

You will need to register to access RouteCast, but it also offers you other features. Subscriptions are $4 a month or $30 a year, but there’s a free 3-day trial if you want to test it out on your next trip.

Nerada Weather

This is another great app that offers more than the default option. Weather and Radar, as the name suggests, provides hourly and daily forecasts, interactive weather maps showing rain, snow, wind, and lightning, severe weather alerts, and more. The interface is clean, and the radar is easy to understand, especially in split-screen mode with maps.

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The big advantage here is that you can pull in some radar data, like rain, temperature, lightning, and wind. It’s not as advanced as MyRadar and it doesn’t offer weather forecasts for your route, but it’s a good choice if you want to see current radar conditions.

The weather

I’m only including this because it’s an available option, but there is a Weather widget for Android Auto. When you tap it, it doesn’t even open the app; it just triggers Gemini, and you get the same results you’d get if you asked, “What’s the weather?” It’s nice to get a high and low forecast for the day, and I can use it to see if there’s any rain expected, but it is.

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I was able to get an estimate of when it may rain by asking when the forecast says light rain, which can be helpful, but the information is at a very high level. If you wanted to go this route, it’s best to save the taps and use voice control to ask Gemini directly.