One factor that can make trucking one of the most dangerous jobs is the weather. The route and time a truck driver needs to take depends on where they are going and when which can be unpredictable at times. Meteorologists have been working hard to help drivers get to their destination in safe conditions by predicting what the next few days will look like. Making sure these routes are planned ahead of time helps avoid delays in deliveries and usually helps prevent accidents too!

For every truck driver, knowing the weather is an everyday part of life. The weather can be a big deal, and it's important to know what to expect when you're on the road. You want to stay informed and up-to-date when bad weather hits you. Luckily, there are several apps that can help you do just that. That's why we've compiled a list of 6 weather apps every truck driver should know about.

1. The Weather Channel

• The Weather Channel's (TWC) app is free and available on Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. It provides you with an array of meteorological data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, UV index, sunrise/sunset times, and visibility on an hourly basis. The data is displayed in a sleek and easy-to-view format. Interactive weather maps display the latest Doppler radar data to show current and future rainfall and weather events.

• You can also set up Severe Weather Alerts to be notified of severe storms, tornadoes, lightning strikes near you, blizzards—you name it! The app also includes social sharing features for users to upload images, tweets, videos and photos.

2. The National Weather Service

• The National Weather Service gives you a quick snapshot of the current weather warnings and watches for the entire U.S. To get a more detailed forecast of a certain area, you just click the map area. You can also very quickly bring up multiple areas along your route by typing in the city names or by moving the map around to click a specific area. You can use this to focus on weather-prone areas along your route. This function is very useful for trip planning.

• The app will show you what kind of weather you can expect in different parts of the country, as well as how long it will last, when you should expect it to begin or end, and what type of precipitation may be involved. The app also has an interactive radar feature that shows where precipitation is currently happening across America—and even lets you see what kind of precipitation is falling near you (rain, snow, etc.).

3. Storm Shield

• Storm Shield is an app designed to keep you safe during severe weather events. It has a clean, simple design that's easy to navigate and understand.

• The app uses your GPS location data to determine what alerts you need to receive, so you don't need to worry about getting too many false alarms. It will put up a warning screen when there's bad weather in the area, and it can even provide voice notifications if you're driving in your vehicle and have Bluetooth connected (so you can keep your hands on the wheel).

• Storm Shield also includes detailed radar maps and weather reports for current and saved locations, with data overlays that let you see things like wind speed, temperature, cloud cover and more. You can also save locations for later reference (like where your house is), or share them with family members or friends so they know what's going on with the weather too!

4. Weather Underground

• Weather Underground gives you access to the most hyper-local weather data wherever you are in the world. It uses data points from 250,000+ personal weather stations across the globe to create a personalized experience where you can check current conditions or forecasts with just one tap of your finger—and no matter where your route takes you, you'll always have access to accurate information about what's going on in your area!

• This weather app has been around for a long time and it's still one of the best. It's highly accurate and offers a long list of features. You can get hourly, daily, or 10-day forecasts from this app, which is great when you're planning out your trip. The app also includes weather cameras so you can see what the conditions are like in a particular area. The crowd reporting feature allows you to verify reported forecasts as well as post your own, giving you an interactive experience that helps make this app unique. You can configure the app to send you severe weather alerts, which is helpful if you're traveling through rural areas where severe weather is more likely to occur.

5. AccuWeather

• AccuWeather is a great, simple to use app that offers hourly, daily, and 15-day weather forecasts which can be integrated with your calendar. Minute Cast is a new feature that provides local minute-by-minute forecasts for the next 2 hours, based on your GPS location.

• The app includes severe weather alerts including thunderstorms, tornadoes, and heavy snow. AccuWeather is best for forecasting the weather in your exact location, but you can also receive alerts and forecasts from other cities you choose to save in your settings.

6. My Radar

• Free weather app for the truck drivers that provides real-time conditions and alerts. It will inform you when it’s about to rain at least 2 hours in advance and provide a precise forecast, including the intensity of the rain and the length of time it will last. It does a good job warning you of dangerous storms or hurricanes coming your way in time for you to form a plan. And it provides info on wind speed, which most apps ignore.

Weather apps are slowly becoming a requirement for truck drivers, regardless of their preference. Today's technology has made it easier than ever to stay up-to-date with local weather and weather impacting traffic. The considerations and scenarios listed above should help you determine which app is best suited for your needs. So, enjoy the weather—it can be a wonderful part of life.

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