Windy.app tips: one feature — one useful action at a time

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Among 100+ Windy.app features, there are always one or two, or even three that you didn't know about, right? Even if you're a true weather and outdoor expert using the app. Meanwhile, these may be important features.

On this page, we have collected all the tips from the Windy.app blog in one post. Follow the link to get the detailed instructions.

Tip #24. Determine your geographic coordinates

You can determine your geographic coordinates using the Weather Map in the Windy.app. Knowing your exact location can be useful in a variety of situations. First of all, to share it with others — to call friends to the spot. Or to use this data in other services like Google maps and various GPS devices. But also for safety, to give your location data to the rescue crew (but we hope you won't need that).

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Your coordinates in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #23. Go to the weather station from the Spot Map

You can go to the weather station from the Spot Map — the small map at the top of each spot's screen. This is another quick and convenient way to find the nearest weather stations to your favorite outdoor spot in addition to several others. You may be the one who finds it best.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Weather stations on the Spot Map in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #22. Find out the chance of rain (%) on the site

You can find out the chance of rain expressed as a percentage on the Windy.app site in addition to the other formats in the app itself to quickly to understand whether it will rain or snow and therefore your chances of avoiding it and if it's not possible, to better prepare for it, as in the cases of, say, a multi-day hike, a bicycle trip, or sailing in an open boat, and others.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Precipitation Map in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #21. Create a personal spot in the app

You can create a personal spot in the app. This can be useful if you haven’t found the spot you need among the hundreds of thousands of popular spots in the app database, but want to put it on a map. It could be your home city, a beach near it, or any other place. Personal spot helps you get the same quick and accurate weather forecast for it as for other spots. So you also don’t have to search for it every time.

Here's exactly how you can do it

Creating a personal spot in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #20. Use the wind bar for a quick forecast for 10 days

You can use the wind bar for a quick forecast. This will help you get a feel for the wind situation on the spot in a matter of seconds. In particular, this way you will know on which of the next 3, 5 or 10 days the wind will be stronger. The number of days depends on the selected weather model.

Here's exactly how you can do it

Wind bar in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #19. Check the basic forecast right on the Home screen

You can put all three or four basic weather elements right on the Home screen of the app: temperature, precipitation, wind, and atmospheric pressure. By putting all these elements together on the screen, you will get it right after you open the app. In some cases, having a basic forecast is sufficient and you don't need to go to the Spot screen or Weather Map and spend extra time studying the forecast.

Here's exactly how you can do it

Basic wether forecast on the Home screen in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #18. Pick the right spot type for your outdoor activity

You can find and pick the right spot type for your outdoor activity: kitesurfing and windsurfing, surfing, other water sports, fishing, and so on thanks to filters and icons. It’s faster and more convenient than searching for a spot in a common database. Plus on every thematic spot you will find additional information about it: best season, most common wind direction, availability of certain services, and more.

Here's exactly how you can do it

Spot Types in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #17. Compare weather forecasts in one click

You can compare weather forecasts from different sources (weather models) in one click with the special Compare Mode feature. You literally need to press one button. In this way, you to see on the graph which forecast to trust more. That's how you choose the most appropriate time with the right weather conditions to practice your favorite wind, water, or winter sport.

Here's exactly how you can do it

Compare Mode of weather forecast in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #16. Find an outdoor spot by its geographic coordinates and vice versa

You can find a spot for a particular outdoor activity or sport by its geographical coordinates: latitude and longitude, if you do not know the name of a spot but you have its coordinates. And vice versa. In this way, it will help you to find the place faster and navigate to it using Google Maps and other navigation tools.

Here's exactly how you can do it

Spot search by its geographic coordinates in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #15. Сhange the order of the weather elements in the forecast table

You can change the order of the weather elements in the forecast table, including the basic and advanced ones. This way, the weather elements you need most will be at the top of the table (and the less important ones, respectively, in the middle and bottom) and you won't have to search for them, especially if the table is large. It will save you time when reading the forecast and making various decisions.

Here's exactly how you can do it

Changing weather elements order in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #14. Download the offline weather forecast for remote areas

You can download an offline weather forecast for remote areas for your favorite spots and any place on the map. You may need it if you notice that your favorite spot(s) has a poor Internet connection or you are going to wilderness areas where there is no mobile network. The offline weather forecast also may be useful if you expect bad weather that can affect the Internet connection.

Here's exactly how you can do it

Offline weather forecast in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #13. Get the weather forecast for any point on the map

You can get a weather forecast for any point on the Weather Map in the app. It will be useful for those who will not find the desired location in the Windy.app's database of spots for outdoor activities or it is not a spot at all, but just any place. So you can find out the forecast for absolutely any point in a just two clicks.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Weather forecast for any point on the map in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #12. Find out the weather for the past 10 days

You can find out what the weather has been like for the past 10 days. In this way, you will get an idea of how the weather changes over time. You will see the patterns of wind behavior, air temperature ups and downs, precipitation amount, and other weather parameters. Knowing all of this, you can better understand how much you can trust the weather forecast.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Weather forecast for the past 10 days in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #11. Select the forecast step of 1 hour or 3 hours

You can select the forecast step of 1 hour or 3 hours to choose how many hours ahead during each day you want see the forecast. In general, 1 hour step is more convenient because that way you can know the weather for every hour instead of a 3 hours span, which is quite a lot for such a сhangeable phenomenon as the weather.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Weather forecast step in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #10. Choose the right weather model for a spot

You can choose a specific weather model from more than 10 models available in the app today. It is believed that regional models give better weather forecasts because the smaller area for which you want to make a forecast, the easier it is to do and the more accurate the forecast will be. And vice versa. (However, global models also have their advantages.) So when choosing models, don’t limit yourself to global models: pay attention to regional ones, too.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Weather models in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #9. Check the weather forecast update time

You can easily check the weather forecast update time on the screen of your favorite or closest sport to your current location. In meteorology, weather forecasts come from weather models which have different update frequencies: from four to 12 times a day for global models like ECMWF, GFS, and ICON13 to 14 times a day for regional models like HRRR for North America. So, in general, a forecast that has been updated recently should be trusted more than an “older” one.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Weather forecast update time in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #8. Change the look of the wind rose

You can change the look of the Wind Rose on the Spot Screen by choosing between two options. In this way, you can know the exact wind speed for a particular hour on a particular day over the whole 10 day forecast, or you can see the pattern of wind behavior for the same period in a more interactive way using the Wind Bar. You can also take a look at the wind history to compare the forecast to the historical data.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Wind Rose in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #7. Create custom weather profile

You can create Custom Weather Profile in addition to 10 already existing profiles for different wind and water sports: kitesurfing and windsurfing, sailing, biking and others. In this way, you will have a set of weather parameters and useful meteorological tools for your specific situation: hiking in Himalayas in the late autumn, fishing in Alaska in spring, yachting in Croatia in winter or whatever.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Custom Weather Profile in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #6. Add an outdoor spot to favorites

You can add an outdoor spot or any point on the map to your Favorites in the app. In this way, it will appear on the Home screen of the app, from where you can have the fastest access to it, as well as in other places in the app.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Favorite Spots in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #5. Set up a weather widget for a spot

You can set up a weather widget for a spot right in the app. In this way, you will get weather forecast for the four of the most important weather parameters — wind, temperature, precipitation and pressure — right on the Home screen of the app for all of your favorite spots at once. No need to go to the spots screens to learn this weather data. This will help you to save time on decision making whatever to go on the spot or not.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Weather Widget in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #4. Write spot review to get free Pro version

You can write a review of your favorite spot for kitesurfing, sailing marina or any general spot for traveling. In this way, you get a free Pro version of the app for one month to evaluate its most interesting features, and at the same time help us to make the app better — we will add your feedback to the Spot Info section, so the other users get basic information about the spot. And good things always come back to people.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Spot Review in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #3. Select the measurement units for your region

You can easily select the measurement units of all weather parameters in the app. In this way, you will get the units for your particular region. For example, the U.S. and some other countries still use the Imperial and US customary measurement system, while the Metric system has been adopted worldwide.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Measurement units in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #2. Share weather forecast with a friend

You can share the weather forecast for your favorite spot with a friend or a family member. In this way, you invite him or her to the spot.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Sharing Wether Forecast in the Windy.app for iOS

Tip #1. Change the colors of the Live Wind Map

You can change the colorts of the Wind Map — the main feature in the app. In this way, you make it easier to see in different lighting or just because that's the mood you're in today.

Here’s exactly how you can do it

Changing Colors of the Live Wind Map in the Windy.app for iOS

Text: Ivan Kuznetsov, an outdoor journalist, editor and writer from the Dolomites, Italy, and Karelia, Finland, with 10 years of professional experience. His favorite sports are hiking, cycling and sauna. Read his other articles

Cover photo: Randy Tarampi / Unsplash