CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — With summer on the way and the tropical storm season drawing near, it's important for everyone to stay aware of the weather no matter where they are. Now, Eyewitness News is making that easier with a new iPhone app.
Eyewitness News and Severe Weather Center 9 have partnered with Weather Decision Technologies and are launching Thursday a new weather radio app that will be free to download for the first 100,000 customers. After the 100,000 downloads Thursday, the app will be available for purchase for $9.99.
With the app, users will have access to everything broadcast on a regular weather radio, but they will be able to carry it with them everywhere they go. The app offers both verbal and video alerts and offers users the ability to know exactly where the storms are based on their location, provided by GPS information broadcast by a smart phone.
SLIDESHOW: Check Out The New Eyewitness News Weather Radio App
Users will be able to customize their alerts for the weather events they feel they need to see. If a user only wants information on tornado watches and warnings, but doesn't want storm warnings, they can enable just those alerts.
By default, high priority alerts like tornado warnings are turned on by default.
The app also shows the most recent radar loop so users can not only see the severity of the storm in their location, but also what is headed their way. Users will also be able to save five different locations on the radar map and monitor weather information from there, so they can keep an eye on any severe weather where family and friends are located.
An Android version is also in the works and should be in the Android Market soon.
To get your hands on the latest weather technology from Eyewitness News, go to the iTunes app store Thursday and download the app. It will be free for the first 100,000 customers, but after that the app will cost $9.99.
Just search the App Store for iMapWeather Radio or click here to download.