Your weather source is the service that supplies your forecast. Different sources can disagree about rain timing, temperature, and wind. Weather Pro lets you compare sources and keep the one that works well for your location and plans.
Using Free? Your source is included automatically: Open-Meteo in both the browser extension and the iOS app. Switching sources requires Pro. You do not need to choose a provider or change anything to keep receiving forecasts.
Which source should I try?
Start with Open-Meteo, your included source. The suggestions below show where each source may be useful. If Open-Meteo regularly misses the weather that matters to you, Pro lets you compare an alternative. These are starting points based on provider coverage, not a ranking from accuracy testing. No source is best in every place, season, or weather situation.
| Where you live | Sources to consider | Why try it? |
|---|---|---|
| Contiguous United States | Pirate Weather or NWS | Pirate Weather uses detailed U.S. forecast inputs. NWS offers forecasts from the National Weather Service. Compare tomorrow’s rain timing, temperature, and wind. |
| Alaska, Hawaii, or U.S. territories | NWS where supported; otherwise compare the global sources below | NWS availability depends on the selected location. The contiguous U.S. recommendation does not imply the same detailed model coverage here. |
| Canada | Open-Meteo; Pirate Weather as another comparison | Open-Meteo carries Canadian regional models. Pirate Weather also has regional inputs covering parts of Canada; coverage is not uniform across the country. |
| Norway, Sweden, Finland, and nearby Nordic areas | MET Norway or Open-Meteo | MET Norway prioritizes the Nordic region. Open-Meteo also offers Nordic model coverage. |
| UK and continental Europe | Open-Meteo; compare Visual Crossing with Pro | Open-Meteo’s model collection includes UK and European regional forecasts. The models used depend on your location and the forecast period. |
| Japan or South Korea | Open-Meteo; compare Visual Crossing with Pro | Open-Meteo includes regional forecasts from Japan’s and South Korea’s weather agencies. |
| Australia, New Zealand, or elsewhere | Compare Open-Meteo, Visual Crossing, and Apple Weather where offered | These provide global forecasts. We do not have evidence to name one the most accurate for your country. |
What makes each source different?
Visual Crossing
A Pro choice in both the browser extension and the iOS app. It combines multiple weather models and observations into a global forecast, making it a practical starting point for everyday planning and travel. Try it to compare a blended forecast with your included source. How Visual Crossing builds forecasts.
Open-Meteo
The included source for Free users in both products, and also available with Pro. It automatically selects suitable weather models for the location, including regional models where available. You do not need to select an individual model. Open-Meteo coverage and model selection.
Pirate Weather
A Pro choice in both products, with global coverage and additional regional inputs in North America. Its documented sources include NOAA’s National Blend of Models and High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model. That makes it worth comparing for short-range U.S. forecasts, but does not establish it as the most accurate source for every U.S. city. Pirate Weather’s forecast inputs.
Apple Weather
A Pro choice in supported versions when it appears in Settings. WeatherKit supplies forecasts from Apple Weather’s global service. Try it if you already find Apple Weather useful locally. Values and available features can differ from Apple’s own Weather app, so selecting it does not promise identical screens, alerts, or minute-by-minute rain forecasts. About Apple Weather and WeatherKit.
MET Norway
A Pro choice in both products. It provides global forecasts with a particular focus on Nordic areas and parts of the Arctic. Its Nordic forecasts include adjustments for local terrain and coastal effects. This makes it a useful option to try in that region, rather than assuming its advantage applies equally worldwide. MET Norway’s forecast regions.
NWS · United States
A Pro choice in both products for supported U.S. locations. Choose it to use the National Weather Service’s local forecast. It is not a worldwide provider, and some locations or forecast details may be unavailable. About NWS forecasts.
Find what works for your location
- Choose what matters: rain during your commute, tomorrow’s high, or afternoon wind.
- Compare like with like: use the same saved city, units, and forecast hours. Check update times, and compare temperature with temperature rather than feels-like.
- Write down predictions before the weather happens: check two sources at roughly the same time each day for a week or two, including unsettled days. Compare their predictions with what actually happened.
- Keep the source that helps you plan: one lucky forecast is not enough to pick a winner. Recheck when seasons change or you travel.
If sources disagree, allow more flexibility in your plans. Choosing the sunniest forecast does not make rain less likely.
Change your source with Pro
- Browser extension: open Settings → General → Weather source.
- iOS app: open Settings → Weather provider.
Choose from the sources shown in your version. Apple Weather appears only where supported. Visual Crossing may also be labeled Weather Extension in parts of the iOS app.
Changing the forecast source does not necessarily change radar, tides, or alert sources. Available details vary by provider and location.
More help: extension settings and forecast troubleshooting.