Safety and Preparedness

Real-Time Rain Alerts From The Weather Channel Could Not Only Keep You Dry, But Also Safe As Spring Severe Thunderstorm Season Ramps Up

Turn these alerts on now so that spring showers don’t turn you into a wet mess.

Real-time Rain Alerts In Light And Dark Mode

How many times have you gotten rained on during spring break or the Saturday morning market and wished that you had known that was coming? The Weather Channel’s app has that exact tool built in and you just have to turn it on.

While these real-time rain alerts are available right down to street level, we only have so much time, so let’s break it down by region. Here’s how real-time rain alerts can keep you dry:

- Southeast: We all know the humidity is coming this time of the year and that means pop-up thunderstorms. It can be blue skies one minute and thundering the next. Don’t let these thunderstorms catch you off guard.

- Southern Plains: April and May are the peak months for severe weather in tornado alley. Our real-time rain alerts could give you a head start or an extra reminder to head indoors if dangerous weather is heading your direction.

- Northeast: Severe weather isn’t just a problem in the Plains. Get an early heads up for when a squall line or pop-up thunderstorms reach your skies.

- Central U.S.: The threat of severe thunderstorms is growing. Derechos, downpours and drylines can all cause havoc with your daily routines. You could harness the power of knowledge embedded in The Weather Channel app to get inside before it starts raining. Lightning alerts can also save you from getting struck.

- Northern Plains and Rockies: April and May can be a very busy time of the year for us. Late-season snowstorms and plenty of hail, damaging winds and tornadoes are possible through Memorial Day. Don’t let your cookout turn into a soggy party.

Here’s how to turn on real-time rain and snow alerts:

- Click on your profile in the top right of The Weather Channel app

- Click on “Notifications” in the top left

- Scroll down to “My Places,” then click the alerts button located under your places selection.

- Tap the slider in the second box to turn on “Real-Time Precipitation.”

- While you’re here, turn on the government-issued alerts to get the latest life-saving warnings from the National Weather Service AND our lightning nearby alerts to warn of lightning strikes within 15 miles of your location.