Many of us rely on weather apps to plan our day — but often, the forecast for sunshine turns into unexpected rain. According to meteorologist Georgios Tsatrafyllis, there’s a simple explanation for why these digital forecasts frequently miss the mark.
“It’s not unusual — it happens all the time,” Tsatrafilias says. “Most apps automatically draw data from predictive weather models without any human review. That means no meteorologist checks or adjusts the results.”
He adds that such apps usually fail to take into account local microclimates. “They don’t know if there’s a mountain nearby or if you’re close to the sea — both factors that can completely change local weather conditions,” he explains.
Another issue is how these apps present probabilities. “If the chance of rain is 30%, they’ll just show a sun icon,” he notes. “So if it happens to rain, the forecast appears wrong.”
Finally, Tsatrafilias points out that the data updates in many apps can lag behind. “Some only refresh every six or twelve hours — sometimes even less frequently. By then, the forecast is already outdated.”
In short, while weather apps can offer a general idea, they often lack the accuracy and context that only professional meteorologists — and local knowledge — can provide.
