Why I switched to MyRadar as my main Android Auto weather app for road trip storm tracking

in Android Auto weather app for road trip storm tracking">

Android Auto has a surprisingly limited selection of weather apps, but after testing two of the most popular options, I've found a clear winner. As a self-proclaimed weather nerd, I'm always eager to stay ahead of the storm, and having a reliable weather app on my car's screen has been a game-changer. When I explored the Android Auto app store, I was disappointed to find only two main weather app options: MyRadar and Weather & Radar.

While there are a few other choices with limited integration or designed for Android Automotive, these two stood out as the most promising. After a week of testing, I found MyRadar to be the clear winner. The MyRadar app is not only the best Android Auto weather app, but it's also one of the most robust weather apps I've used.

Its core feature is live weather radar, which allows users to track approaching storms by searching for their current location or any other location. But what sets it apart is the wealth of additional information it provides. The default map displays rainfall and storm intensity, but users can switch to various other maps, such as road, aerial, or topographical views.

The app's layers menu offers a wide range of options, including air quality, winds, clouds, fronts, weather outlooks, and even videos from storm chasers. Most features are free, but a few premium features, such as RouteCast, require a subscription. RouteCast shows projected weather conditions along a user's entire route, making it an indispensable tool for road trippers.

A subscription costs $4 a month or $30 a year, with a free 3-day trial available. Weather & Radar is another solid option, offering hourly and daily forecasts, interactive weather maps, and severe weather notifications. While its interface is clean and easy to use, it lacks the advanced features and route-specific weather projections that make MyRadar stand out.

For those looking for a simple weather check, Android Auto's Weather widget is an option, but it merely triggers Gemini to provide basic forecast information. While it's useful for finding high and low temperatures or checking for rain, it's limited compared to MyRadar's comprehensive features.