Everyone wants more accurate weather forecasts, and few want them more than the forecasters themselves. One of the many challenges of forecasting the weather is determining what exactly is happening at ground level. 

Andy Eggert, working in the Indiana State climate Office, says there is an app that you can use to find super local forecasts and discover what’s happening at ground level at the same time. This same app allows you to become a weather reporter, and supply information that will help make these forecasts more accurate.

How you can find super-local weather forecasts now!

Weather conditions at the surface can be changed by a wide variety of things and are difficult to accurately forecast.  Most weather radars cannot “see” what is happening on the ground. That can hinder accurate forecasts.

Two federal agencies, working with the University of Oklahoma, have developed an app that lets you and your neighbors contribute weather information that local forecasters can then access and use to make their forecasts more accurate. You become their eyes and ears to fill the information gap for what’s going on weather-wise at the ground level.   

The mPING app is a product of NASA, NOAA, and the University of Oklahoma. It’s used to crowdsource live ground weather reports to create better forecasts in the future.  Simply download the app from your phone’s app store and you can send your reports. 

The app provides definitions of all the weather conditions you may encounter so your reports can be as accurate as possible.  The app also features a map that shows all the reports from the last four hours.  This app is super simple to use.

Find more information at mping.nssl.noaa.gov  It will give you a better handle on how these forecasts help, and how you can contribute. .