2017 Rippeology Weather Media Awards

I get asked frequently about the best weather stuff – apps, home stations, websites. 

I’m not an expert on this, but I’ve been a proud “weather geek” since I was a kid, and I have some strong preferences.

These are my choices for the Rippeology Weather Media Awards.  Tell me your faves in the comments!

Mobile Apps:

Best free Summer Radar app: RadarScope

Best paid Summer Radar app: RadarScope Pro (You might need a lesson in how to use this, but at $9.99 a year, it’s life-saving stuff)

Sample RadarScope storm radar.

Best local forecast app: Dark Sky (simple, accurate)  

Dark Sky

Best free Winter weather app:  MyRadar (captures winter weather very well)

Best paid Winter weather app:  (Nope. Don’t bother.)

Best severe weather app: (tie) RadarScope Pro and Storm Shield

Local (ish) Meteorologists:

Best TV meteorologist in south-central Wisconsin:  Max Tsaparis, WKOW

Best south-central Wisconsin Twitter account:  Bob Lesh, WISC: part goofball, part really good meteorologist

Best meteorologist on planet earth:  Tom Skilling

Tom Skilling, my original weather crush

Best long-range meteorologist: Sally Severson (WISN Milwaukee) – only because Jeremy Nelson ditched us for warmer climes. 

Best local TV station for severe weather:  WKOW

If I was going to get a meteorology degree, and I could choose my own teacher:  Jeremy Nelson (dude is onto something with the BSR and LRC stuff, and owns a lot of colored pencils)

Social Media Follows:

Best Twitter account that will get you pumped about chasing storms:  Reed Timmer

Best Instagram account by a meteorologist: Jeremy Nelson

From Jeremy Nelson's Instagram account

Most Entertaining Weather Amateur Besides Me:  Frankie MacDonald on YouTube (“People of Wisconsin…!”)

Best local weather photographer (Twitter): Tom Purdy

This guys does amazing work!

Best way to keep up on aurora forecasts: Aurora Alerts

Weather Geeks Only:

Best user interface for weather models: www.wxcharts.eu

Top 5 essential weather websites for true weather geeks:  www.wxcharts.eu; www.goes.noaa.gov; www.meteo.psu.edu; www.organicforecasting.com; www.ventusky.com

WXCHARTS

 

Never Ever Look at this Website:  www.accuweather.com

Never Ever Look at this Website, Runner Up:  www.weather.com 

Most reliable future radar, summer:  HRRR, available at Pivotal Weather

Most reliable future radar, winter:  NAM 3k, available at Tropical Tidbits

Home Weather:

Best home weather station value:  AcuRite (get the smartHUB so you can link your station on weather underground!)

The home weather station I have.

Best home weather station if price is no object:  Davis Vantage Pro

Those are my picks!  What are yours?

~Scott