Rainbow Weather: AI Forecast

Minute-by-minute forecasts in a neatly designed app

- DAVID CROOKES

Free; full feature set $4.99/month; $19.99/year From www.rainbow.ai

Needs iOS 15 or later

RATHER THAN PROVIDE a detailed, all-encompassing forecast, this app primarily concentrates on the immediate likelihood of precipitation. It does so with the aid of advanced AI modeling that draws on a variety of data sources that includes meteorology stations, satellites, user reports and shared barometer information.

You're shown a hyperlocal forecast using an animated map. The passing of time displays on an advancing slider and you're able to see any moving rain clouds to gain an idea of their size.

The clouds' color indicates the severity of the potential rain, with yellow being extreme (more than 30mm per hour) and light blue being drizzle. It's an effective way of getting a speedy, at-a-glance view of upcoming weather changes but, unless you pay (and more on that later), you will only get to see a visual rain forecast for the next 30 minutes.

RAIN CHECK