Help Center
New to Weather Consensus? Learn how to compare forecasts, understand agreement indicators, and make better-informed plans.
Getting started
- Search for a location. Enter a city in the search box, choose a suggested location if one appears, and select Check Consensus.
- Review the forecast summary. The top panel displays consensus temperature, precipitation chance, wind, and overall confidence.
- Choose a day. Use the seven-day forecast cards to explore a specific date. The selected day determines the detailed consensus and model-agreement information displayed below.
- Explore the details. Review the hourly view when available, compare individual weather sources, and switch among model-agreement categories.
Understanding the forecast
Forecast Consensus
The summary brings together weather values from the available providers for the selected date. It is intended as a quick comparison, not a replacement for official forecasts or warnings.
7-Day Forecast Consensus
Each day card gives you a snapshot of expected conditions. Select a card to update the detailed view. On smaller screens, swipe horizontally through the available days.
Hourly Forecast
When hourly information is available for the selected day, the hourly section provides a more detailed look at conditions throughout the day. Hourly data availability may differ by provider and date.
Temperature and wind units
Use the temperature control to switch between Fahrenheit (°F) and Celsius (°C). Use the wind control to cycle through miles per hour (MPH), kilometers per hour (KMH), and knots (KTS). These controls change how values are displayed; they do not change the underlying forecast.
Freeze Risk and Snow/Ice Risk
These indicators are screening aids based on available forecast information. They are not official watches, warnings, or road-condition reports. Conditions can vary significantly over short distances and from one hour to the next.
Model Agreement Overview
This section shows how closely available weather sources align for the selected day. Choose a category to view its agreement indicator and the values supplied by individual sources.
- Temperature: How closely temperature forecasts compare.
- Precipitation: Agreement in the probability of precipitation.
- Humidity: Agreement in humidity forecasts.
- UV Index: Agreement in forecast UV values.
- Wind: Agreement in wind speeds, with wind-direction comparison where data permits.
- Freeze: Comparison of freezing-related forecast signals.
- Snow/Ice: Comparison of wintry-weather risk signals.
If a category shows a dash or unavailable data, there may not be enough comparable provider information to calculate that indicator.
Want the technical explanation? Read Our Methodology.
Activity Focus and Activity Suitability
Activity Focus adjusts the importance given to temperature, precipitation, and wind agreement according to the activity you select. Available options include General, Outdoor Work, Boating, Outdoor Event, and Driving / Travel.
Activity Suitability offers a simplified interpretation of conditions for that activity. Suitability is different from agreement: providers may agree on weather that is still unsuitable for your plans.
Frequently asked questions
Why compare more than one weather forecast?
Forecast providers use different models, inputs, and methods. Comparing them helps reveal where forecasts are similar and where uncertainty may be greater.
Does higher agreement guarantee better accuracy?
No. Several sources can agree and still be wrong. Agreement is useful context, but not a verified probability of correctness.
Why do forecasts from different providers disagree?
Differences can arise from model assumptions, geographic resolution, update times, local terrain, and how a provider defines a weather variable.
Why is an agreement score missing?
Some comparisons require at least two usable source values for the same day and variable. Missing or incompatible information can prevent a calculation.
Is precipitation chance the same as the chance of rain?
Not always. Precipitation may include rain, snow, sleet, or other forms. Providers may also define and report probabilities differently, so comparisons should be interpreted cautiously.
Can I use Weather Consensus for emergency decisions?
Do not rely on it alone. Check official weather alerts, local emergency guidance, and current road or marine conditions before making safety-critical decisions.
Where does the weather information come from?
Weather Consensus uses forecast data from WeatherAPI.com, Visual Crossing, Open-Meteo, and the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS/NOAA), where available. The Forecast Inputs panel shows which sources contributed to a particular forecast. Weather Consensus is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NOAA or NWS. A source may occasionally be unavailable. See the Forecast Inputs section on the main page to inspect the providers contributing to the displayed forecast.
How do I report an issue or suggest an improvement?
Email weatherconsensus@gmail.com. Including the city, forecast date, device, and a description of the issue is helpful.
Help content describes the current application design and may change as features evolve.