radar
Here, I present a general overview of some weather radar applications that I think are interesting. Some of the more feature-rich options, like AWIPS or the Gibson Ridge suite, are aimed at professionals and thus are not often mentioned when the question “which radar program should I use?” comes up. The current analysis is limited, but I plan on adding more in-depth feature explanations to each piece of software in the future. Platform support and pricing models are listed up-front, since they’re the most important metric when it comes to actually deciding to use a piece of software. Other data will be added piecemeal as I continue to refine this list.
Standalone Applications
AWIPS II CAVE
- Platforms : Linux, macOS, Windows
- Pricing: Free and open-source
- Levels: 2 and 3
- Advisories: All
- User Guide
- A detailed user manual is available, but is somewhat dated and is specifically for the NWS version of AWIPS
GR2Analyst Version 3
- Platforms: Windows
- Pricing : $250.00 one-time purchase
- Levels: 2
- Advisories :
- Warnings (Special Marine, Flash Flood, Severe Thunderstorm, Tornado, Tornado Reported, Tornado Emergency)
- User Guide
GRLevel3 Version 3
- Platforms: Windows
- Pricing : $79.95 one-time purchase
- Levels: 3
- Advisories :
- Warnings (Special Marine, Flash Flood, Severe Thunderstorm, Tornado, Tornado Reported, Tornado Emergency)
- User Guide
RadarScope
- Platforms: macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
- Pricing : $9.99 mobile, $29.99 desktop one-time purchases
- Subscriptions :
- Pro Tier One: $9.99/yr
- Pro Tier Two: $99.99/yr or $14.99/mo
- Levels: 2 and 3
- Advisories :
- Warnings (Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm, Flash Flood, Special Marine, Snow Squall, and Extreme Wind) are provided in the base app without a Pro subscription
- A Pro subscription adds watches, statements, discussions, and local storm reports
- User Guide
RadarOmega
- Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
- Pricing: $8.99 mobile one-time purchase
- Subscriptions :
- Gamma: $49.00/yr or $4.99/mo
- Beta: $89.00/yr or $8.99/mo
- Alpha: $119.00/yr or $11.99/mo
- Levels: 2 and 3
- Advisories (manual, page 9):
- Warnings (Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm, Flash Flood, Special Marine), special weather statements
- User Guide
wX
- Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
- Pricing: Free and open-source
- Levels: 2 and 3
- Advisories: All
- User Guide
Online Applications
QuadWeather
- Pricing: Free, with an account requirement
- Subscriptions :
- QuadWeather Extra: $29.99/yr or $3.99/mo
- Levels: 2
- Advisories: Warnings, statements
AtticRadar
- Pricing: Free and open-source
- Levels: 2 and 3
- Advisories: Warnings, watches, statements, and discussions
NWS Radar
- Pricing: Free
- Levels: 2 and 3
- Advisories: Warnings
- User Guide