The coming winter storm: There’s an app for that. But how reliable is it and what’s inside?

Associated Press (AP) TechnologyNews ReportEN 5 min read 100% complete by By  SETH BORENSTEIN and TAMMY WEBBERJanuary 23, 2026 at 05:53 PM
The coming winter storm: There’s an app for that. But how reliable is it and what’s inside?

AI Summary

long article 5 min

During complex winter storms, meteorologists advise relying on human expertise from local TV, radio, or websites rather than solely depending on smartphone weather apps. While convenient for mild weather, apps often struggle with the nuances of multi-faceted storms involving snow, ice, and freezing rain. Experts emphasize that local forecasters can better interpret rapidly changing data and provide accurate, localized predictions, especially since a few miles can drastically change precipitation types. Some apps, like The Weather Channel app, integrate National Weather Service data with meteorologists' analysis, offering more reliable information. However, many apps use AI, which can introduce errors, making human interpretation crucial for extreme weather events.

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Technology
Primary framing
Public Health
Secondary framing
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Key Claims (5)

AI-Extracted

For extreme weather events, it is especially important to know there are human forecasters interpreting the data.

quote — Jason Furtado, University of Oklahoma meteorology professor90% confidence

Smartphone weather apps may be handy during mild weather, but human expertise is better during dangerous winter storms.

quote — meteorologists interviewed by The Associated Press90% confidence

The Weather Channel app uses numerous models, data sources, weather observers and staff.

factual — James Belanger, vice president of The Weather Channel's parent company90% confidence

Weather apps are really bad at storms that have multiple types of precipitation.

quote — Marshall Shepherd, University of Georgia meteorology professor80% confidence

Many weather forecast apps use AI methods to make forecasts, introducing the potential for significant errors.

quote — Jason Furtado, University of Oklahoma meteorology professor70% confidence
Claims are automatically extracted and should be independently verified. Attribution indicates the stated source of the claim.

Keywords

weather apps 100% winter storm 90% meteorologists 80% weather forecasts 70% extreme weather 60% national weather service 60% local expertise 50% data interpretation 50% precipitation types 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral
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Source Transparency

Source
Associated Press (AP)
Article Type
News Report
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
United States

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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