After you check the forecast, you might want to consider downloading these five helpful smartphone apps to be prepared for whatever winter dishes out.
The Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone is displayed at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, in Las Vegas.Now that Mother Nature has finally decided it’s wintertime in Pioneer Valley, we’ll have to start thinking about how snow, below-freezing temperatures and ice will factor into our morning commutes.
After you check the forecast, you might want to consider downloading these five helpful smartphone apps to be prepared for whatever winter dishes out.
No. 1: Winter Survival Kit
Just like it’s smart to have a kit in your car trunk when the weather turns foul, the Winter Survival Kit app can also come in handy, showing you where you are, notifying loved ones when you get stalled in a snow storm and even figuring out how long you can keep your car on to stay warm.
The free app, which was recently developed by two North Dakota State University students and had more than 12,000 downloads a week after its release date, is available to Android and iPhone users, according to the North Dakota State University’s website.
The app also offers safety tips and a button that can show where local gas stations are.
Hat tip: WXOW.com
No. 2: Winter Wake-Up
Have you ever rushed out the door for work or school in the morning only to be made late by stubborn frost clinging to your windshield? Well, Boondoggle’s free Winter Wake-Up app, which gigaom.com says is available on iPhone and Android smartphones, is here to help.
The app will wake you up early if frost or snow hit your area the night before so you have enough time to clear it off before you leave home. Don’t worry snooze-button lovers, you determine just how much earlier it goes off.
Hat tip: Internet App Developer
No. 3: Road Trip Weather
If you’re planning a long drive, but you’re not sure of the weather, this app will keep you informed along the way. After you punch in where you’re going, Road Trip Weather, which Time.com says is a $1 iPhone-only app, shows you forecasts for your route.
Hat tip: Time Techland
No. 4: SD Calc
This is a fun app that parents and school children might find useful as they plan for possible school closures. SD Calc, short for snow day calculator, asks you to plug in the overnight snow fall, a weather warning type, your area’s annual snowfall amount and the amount of children who ride the bus. Then it will spit out an estimated percentage chance for a snow day.
SD Calc costs about $1.
No. 5: OnTheSnow Snow Reports
Those who love hitting the slopes would likely appreciate the free OnTheSnow Snow Reports app, which allows users to check resorts in their area for recent accumulation, weather updates and snow conditions.
These are just some of the winter weather apps available to smartphone users. Which ones do you use? Are there any that would be a good addition to this list?