Marine weather apps

Our selection of weather forecasting and routing applications for marine navigation.

WEATHER 4D LITE / WEATHER 4D ROUTING

WEATHER 4D Lite - €16.99 iOS. Basic version designed for the general public for multiple activities.

WEATHER 4D Routing - €37.99 iOS. Advanced version designed for maritime navigation with routing module, creation of waypoints and routes.

Weather4D Lite comes standard with the GFS global forecast model with resolutions of 0.25°, 0.5°, 1°, and 2°. For an annual subscription of €37.99, it offers access to 37 high-resolution weather models, including NAM, COAMPS, WRF (USA), GEM (Canada), ICON Global, ICON Europe (Germany), ARPEGE Europe, AROME, AROME HD (France), AROME (DOM-TOM), as well as wave models WW3 (FNMOC) and MFWAM (Météo-France), and currents MyOcean (MERCATOR) and NCOM (USA).

The application allows you to define custom zones on the planet and choose the characteristics of the GRIB files to download: data type, resolution, frequency, file size, etc. GRIB files can be downloaded via the publisher's servers over WiFi or 4G, and can also be acquired via satellite phone.

Both applications support the Iridium GO!™ for direct downloading of models from Weather4D servers.

The weather forecasts are displayed in one or two windows (exclusively on iPad), offering various display combinations for the same area: weather forecasts and forecasts for waves or currents, comparison of different models. It is possible to separate the two windows to view the same area at different scales.

The Routing version enriches the Lite version with additional features:

creation of waypoints and routes,
importing routes from third-party applications (iNavX, iSailor, Navionics Boating, TZ iBoat, etc.),
visualization of the weather according to the boat's progress,
importing speed polars for routing with management of multiple sail sets,
routing for racing or combined sailing and motor for cruising with constraint options,
resuming routing while navigating from the ship's current position,
exporting optimized routes to other applications.

SAILGRIB

free / paid (€4.99 / €19.99) Android

Sailgrib is an application that allows you to download and view GRIB files from various sources (SailGrib, SailDocs, Great Circle, MeteoConsult, GMN, etc.) either by direct download or by email. It offers the possibility to visualize, depending on the models, data such as wind, atmospheric pressure, clouds, precipitation, air temperature, atmospheric stability, as well as wave height and direction, not to mention oceanic and tidal currents.

The application also allows you to download GRIB files via satellite using the Iridium Go.

The paid version at €4.99 offers up to 16 days of weather forecasts (GFS model), while the free version is limited to 48 hours. For €19.99, the paid version provides access to all high-resolution weather models.

SQUID MOBILE

Free iOS - Android (+ weather subscriptions)

Squid Mobile, an app from the Belgian weather specialist Great Circle, offers global and regional weather data, free or by subscription (free GFS access, subscriptions at €5.99 for one week, €9.99 for one month, and €33.99 for one year for high-resolution HIRES models). It provides access to forecasts for all regions of the world.

Among its features:

downloading GRIB files via wifi, 3/4G, or satellite (compatible with Iridium Go),
animated display on map
meteogram
online routing (with customizable polars for many boats) on Google Earth or vector map
exporting routes to compatible applications such as iNavX.

The essentials are there, but its ergonomics and interface could be improved, especially compared to Weather4D, which is paid but offers more features and ergonomics. The requirement for an online connection limits routing possibilities at sea. It is ideal for those who want to start GFS routing or subscribe to a short-term plan without making significant expenses.

WINDY

Very intuitive and useful weather app for the sea, provided you have an internet connection; see the description in the section "General Weather Apps".

MARINE WEATHER CONSULT

Free - iOS / Android

Version iPhone: a comprehensive and intuitive weather application, offering a multitude of information (choice by area or specific spot, visualization of BMS alerts, wave forecasts, marine conditions, temperature, pressure, tide times, etc.), all with extended forecasts over 10 days. It even includes real-time observations from buoys and lighthouses.

Version iPad: the interface has been completely redesigned, including a customizable home page for the user. The forecasts also extend over 10 days and the usage is overall very intuitive. However, it should be noted that there are some constraints: the application requires the use of the iPad in landscape mode, which can be somewhat inconvenient. Furthermore, access to weather data is in 3-hour increments without animation, making it more difficult to appreciate changes at a specific location.

Since the data is transmitted via streaming, an internet connection is necessary: thus, consulting weather forecasts while at sea is impossible and must be done before departure or in an area covered by a 4G cellular network at a minimum.

METEO FRANCE

Free iOS - Android

Météo France offers a weather application aimed at the general public, which has the advantage of providing Marine Bulletins and BMS for all European maritime areas. These bulletins are identical to those transmitted by VHF and Navtex.

An internet connection is necessary to update these forecasts. It remains very practical for coastal navigation.

WEATHERTRACK

€9.99 iOS

This marine weather application is designed for both enthusiasts and professionals. It offers an impressive range of features (details available on the App Store), including forecasts up to 16 days (beyond 6 days, these are more like trends), radar maps for precipitation, and a "Grib Robot" function that optimizes downloading satellite files from multiple servers. It also allows users to create routes on a terrestrial vector map. However, this application is less aesthetic and ergonomic than Weather4D, and although it offers the ability to trace routes, it does not provide routing calculations. Additionally, it includes many options available through in-app purchases, with prices ranging from €0.99 to €46.99.

POCKETGRIB

5.99€ iOS - 3.09€ Android

A simple and effective application to visualize Grib files on a Google Maps background. It has everything: wind, pressure, rain, cloud cover, wave height, thunderstorm forecast (CAPE), and meteogram.

8-day forecasts

HF WEATHER FAX

€4.99 iOS - €10.99 Android

Update of 09/25/24: app no longer available on Android

HF Weather Fax is an application that decodes weather fax charts on iPad, iPhone, or Android devices. These charts, which include weather analyses and forecasts, are issued by radio stations located around the world.

Transmitted via shortwave, they can be easily received by SSB receivers, commonly used in recreational boating.

For more details on the necessary equipment, see this article available on Navigation Mac.

NAVTEX PAD

2.99€ iOS - 4.99€ Android

Màj du 25/09/24 : appli plus disponible sur Android

This application allows you to display transcripts of Navtex marine weather messages without requiring a specific receiver. It uses the audio signal from a radio captured by the iPad's microphone.

Note: The information provided above generally comes from the Appstore and Google Play. The applications have not always been tested. Price indications may be incorrect, as prices change very often on the stores due to promotions. Feel free to share your opinions and comments regarding the usefulness of the applications you have tested, or to suggest other applications via our contact email.