Dear X-Air and WeatherCat iOS device fans, . . .
Check this review at TidBITS.com: <Dark Sky 5 Offers Hyperlocal Weather Forecasts for iOS
Okay, this is interesting, but I was puzzled by a key feature of this app: the "hyperlocal precipitation forecasting system."
I did a little more digging. According to the developer's website, it is "powered" by a system called "Forecast."
http://forecast.ioDigging a little further, there is a list of data sources:
http://forecast.io/raw/The data sources listed for the "hyperlocal precipitation forecasting system" are all doppler radar sources. This suggests that they use an algorithm based on radar echoes to decide when it is going to rain. If so, this system will only work in areas were doppler radar is a reliable indicator of rainfall. This summer we have seen a number of virga events:
http://earthsky.org/earth/virga-is-rain-that-doesnt-reach-the-groundWhen you are in a drought there is nothing more frustrating than seeing what looks like a juicy radar echoes but not seeing any of it reaching the ground.
According to the developer who is in New England, the software works well there. Places with a similar sort of weather pattern will probably find the app useful. However, it may perform poorly in places likes like California and the desert southwest.
Cheers, Edouard