Best UK weather forecast apps for Android

Weather in the U.K. can be unpredictable. With random, record-breaking heatwaves immediately followed by severe thunderstorms this summer, it’s good to know what to expect when you head out. That’s why we have compiled a list of the best U.K. weather forecast apps that will give you accurate, up-to-date information, whether you live in the busy suburbs of London or a small village in the middle of nowhere. Let’s get into it!

Best UK weather forecast apps

Editor’s note: This list will be updated regularly when great new UK weather apps are released.

1. Met Office Weather Forecast

Price: Free/£2.99 ad-free

What better place to get your weather forecast than the U.K.’s national weather service? The Met Office Weather Forecast app offers all the key features you’d want and more. You can view weather forecasts up to seven days ahead, receive daily and even hourly predictions for your location and check not only what the temperature currently is, but what it feels like. The Met Office app also provides plenty of accurate and detailed U.K.-specific information. This includes severe weather warnings alerts, a rainfall map, information on wind speed and direction, and more. Those in big cities can even check air pollution forecasts. The best part? The UI is clean and easy to use. The Met Office Weather Forecast app is ad-supported, but for a one time £2.99 purchase you can remove all advertisements.

2. BBC Weather

Price: Free

If you prefer an application that’s simple and to the point, the BBC Weather app should be your number one choice. It has a minimalist interface that lets you get all the information you need at a glance. All of the standard weather app features are included. You can view hourly weather data up to 14 days ahead for U.K. locations and most major international cities. Just like the Met Office app, you get information on what the temperature feels like, although the rain information is more limited. BBC Weather also has you covered if you love complaining about the weather on social media, with easily shareable forecasts. It even offers text-to-speech accessibility — all for free. There were some functionality problems in recent months, but the BBC Weather app has been reverted to an older version and things are working as they should.

3. Weather by Weatherbug

Price: Free

Has the weather been bugging you lately? Then Weather by Weatherbug might be the right app for you. It not only offers accurate forecasts for every city in the U.K., but can help you stay prepared in any season. In the winter, you can be one step ahead with the app’s 10-day snow depth forecast, while in the summer its Storm Tracker map layer can help you avoid thunderstorm areas when camping. There’s even an animated lightning map! It allows you to receive in-app notifications anytime lightning strikes in a 10-mile radius of your current location. So, if you are an outdoorsy person, Weather by Weatherbug can be your top pick.

4. Accuweather

Price: Free/£2.99 ad-free

Accuweather is one of the most popular weather apps on Google Play. Although not U.K.-centric, it is still an excellent choice for those who want accurate weather forecasts up to 15 days in advance. As all the other apps on the list, you get real and “feels like” temperature, but also severe weather alerts, local forecasts you can personalize and Minutecast which tracks the weather minute by minute for the most accurate information. We don’t recommend using it while on data though! Nevertheless, AccuWeather is a great choice in the UK and outside of it.

5. Awesome Weather by YoWindow

Price: Free/ £2.99 ad-free

If you want to combine stylish with practical, your best choice is Awesome Weather by YoWindow. This unusual but gorgeous app covers the weather basics. It offers forecasts based on data from local weather stations, feels like temperature, chance of rain and UV index. What makes it stand out are its amazing weather widgets and animated live wallpaper you can put on your desktop. It changes according to the season, time of day and of course the weather. If it’s raining outside, it’s raining in the app too. You can even wake up “with the sounds of nature” thanks to the weather alarm clock.

6. Google Assistant

Price: Free

Although the information might not be as detailed, nothing beats the convenience of asking Google Assistant for the weather forecast. This is especially true when you’re getting ready in the morning and your hands are full. All you need to do is say “OK Google, what’s the weather forecast for today?” and you are good to go. Similar phrases should do the job too. A separate Google Assistant app exists, but you don’t need to download it. Google Assistant is included in the Google app installed on every Android phone. The weather data itself is pulled from a variety of sources and it’s usually very reliable.

These are our picks for the best U.K. weather apps for Android. We’ll be sure to add more as they appear on the Play Store!