Mobile App
We’ve updated our App, and now it comes with even more features – including NZ’s most accurate and detailed lightning tracker, through our partnership with MetService. This is the first time official NZ lightning data has been made accessible to the public. We have both free and paid access to lightning data for you.
What’s Changed in our latest App Update?
We’ve added a new low cost paid tier called LIGHTNING PLUS. It gives you access to real time lightning data from MetService and Transpower pushed to your device for ONE location. We’ve also expanded the number of saved locations you can have for general weather forecasts (FIVE locations) and observations around New Zealand. (Basic/free version remains at one location).
For PRO users you now get TWO locations for real-time lightning alerts/push notifications, and up to TEN weather forecast locations you can save or create weather alerts for. We’ve also doubled the number of days you can create alerts, from 4 days out to now 8 days out as many of you asked for this.
Compare the 3 different tiers of the new WeatherWatch App below to work out which plan best suits you:
| Feature | Basic $0 forever | Lightning Plus Only *$1.99/mth (12 mth plan) or $4.49/mth | Pro $7.99/mth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customisable dashboard: drag-and-drop your preferred maps and data | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Accurate hourly forecasts: plan your day with confidence | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Extended local forecast (up to 10 days): see what’s ahead at a glance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time current conditions: temperature, wind, rain and cloud cover | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rain probability data: know the likelihood, not just the possibility | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic location detection (GPS): instant forecasts wherever you are | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coverage for small communities: not just major centres | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Combined WeatherWatch + RuralWeather data: urban and rural in one app | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI-enhanced forecasting: powered by multiple global weather models | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live NZ rain radar: track rain, showers and storms in near real time | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interactive weather maps: wind, rain, temperature, swell and more | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Preset wind alerts: early warning of strong conditions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Preset rain alerts: avoid getting caught out | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Official warnings displayed in forecasts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clear, easy-to-read graphics: designed for quick understanding | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Delayed Lightning map (15 mins) | ✓ | ||
| True real-time lightning data: map updates with no delay | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Real time lightning alerts: public access in NZ for the first time | 1 | 2 | |
| High level zoom functionality Real Time Lightning map | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Number of favourite locations: coverage across home, work and travel areas | 5 | 10 | |
| Ad FREE | ✓ | ✓ | |
| MetService: Customisable push alerts for official watches and warnings | ✓ | ||
| Fog and low cloud alerts: ideal for transport, aviation and coastal users | ✓ | ||
| Temperature alerts: be better prepared against frost or heat | ✓ | ||
| Rain alerts: from light showers to heavy downpours | ✓ | ||
| Wind alerts: stay ahead of damaging conditions | ✓ |
WeatherWatch App unique features and plans
- BASIC / FREE: Our App has a significant FREE section… combining the best parts of WeatherWatch.co.nz and RuralWeather.co.nz and all our best data and graphs in one home. We have more local forecast data than any other NZ provider, all freely available. You can also customise the page and select what maps and data you see, and the order you see them in (this is why we ask you to sign up for free, so you can save your settings and move things around to display as you prefer).
- LIGHTNING PLUS: Gives you an ad free experience, 5 saved locations, and now also comes with Lightning Alerts and access to zoomable live nationwide lightning maps. This gives many of the benefits the PRO tier gives you but for a much lower price. Just $1.99 per month when you sign up for 12 months ($23.90 per annum). Or, if you have a thunderstorm outbreak you can sign up for a monthly basis for only $4.49 per month (cancel anytime, one month minimum). LIGHTNING PLUS is designed for those that want a more personalised experience but don’t want the PRO level, and it comes with our exciting new lightning push notifications for your chosen location – the first of its kind in New Zealand!
- PRO: You set the criteria for your various weather alerts – ie, tell me when temperatures over the next week will drop below freezing, or when are we forecast to next get more than 10mm of rain, or winds over 40km/h etc. The paid PRO tier is so farmers, growers, small businesses, pilots, gardeners, boaties – really anyone that seriously relies on the weather – now have multiple alerts to help better plan ahead, all customised by you and pushed to your device. PRO version now also allows TEN forecast locations saved and multiple forecast alerts set for each location + MetService warnings and watches pushed to your device. It’s the full package. PRO now also automatically comes with our live lightning map and real-time lightning alerts. While the Lightning Plus tier allows you to get lightning alerts for one location, PRO gives you access to TWO lightning locations anywhere in NZ for real-time lightning alerts. These locations can be changed at any time.
Read more
- Read our Media Release on the new Real-Time LIGHTNING Alerts here.
- See Frequently Asked Questions about LIGHTNING alerts.
- See Frequently Asked Questions about our Mobile App.
Download here
