There is an endless debate over whether you should trust weather forecasters. Sometimes their reports are not as accurate as you would like. Forecasts are well known for being wrong and unreliable, yet we depend on them to make plans for the week.

However, this is all changing. The days when we couldn’t rely on forecasts are gradually moving into the background as forecasting tools improve every day. Private-sector firms like DTN provide increasingly accurate insights, and new apps launch every year with better accuracy on forecasts.

This means there are now loads of great mobile resources on the App Store that can use to track and forecast the weather. Instead of glancing at the news report in the morning and hoping for the best, you can carry an hourly report right in your pocket!

Here is our list of the best weather apps to help you plan your summer.

1) Dark Sky

Reviews routinely rate Dark Sky as the best. So good, in fact, that Apple bought it this year (It is only available on iOS).

Fans have described it as the best app for tracking weather around the world, and the best overall weather app. Dark Sky is simple, easy to use and always up to date. Its user interface is easy to use, displaying the temperature, what it feels like, and a forecast of the week’s weather.

Dark Sky draws its information and data from its own weather service, which enables it to provide up-to-the minute forecasts. It is for this reason in particular that Dark Sky has gained its reputation. Recent updates include precipitation maps to accompany notifications and severe weather alerts.

Overall, Dark Sky is accurate, loaded with info and always current. What more could you want?

2) The Weather Channel

The Weather Channel ranks as one of the best all round weather apps, and it is on Android as well as iOS. It includes many of the same basic features as Dark Sky and other apps, but the app also offers real-time rain alerts using its radar and you can track seasonal allergy risk.

In contrast to Dark Sky, this app is free, although there are ads on the platform. For $1 a month or $10 a year, you can upgrade to a premium, ad-free version.

The app also includes a sharing feature so that users can upload tweets, images and videos.

3) RadarScope

This app is the forecasters app. If the data and graphs fascinate you, then this is the app for you. It is a serious bit of kit.

RadarScope costs $10 but it is worth the money. It is aimed at enthusiasts and meteorologists, including serious tracking tools and data.

But what sets RadarScope apart from other apps is its storm tracking. RadarScope provides detailed information on the coming storms and alerts for tornadoes, storms, flash floods and special marine warnings.

If you are looking for more than a regular weather app, this is the one for you.

4) Weather Underground

This app is cool for two reasons. First, it has one of the best privacy policies. You hand over a lot of data when you use a weather app, including your location. However, Weather Underground lets you customize your settings so that your data is only shared with ads on that service, and that they aren’t shared with third parties. You can also request data deletion, and stop background data usage.

The other cool thing about Weather Underground is that it pools its information from more than 30,000 personal and amateur stations. It can offer hyperlocal forecasts for your neighborhood.