Storm Radar Adds CarPlay Support With Auto-Rerouting Around Bad Weather
Storm Radar version 4.0.19 shipped on the App Store on August 30, adding the app's first CarPlay screen. It is one of the only weather apps built for Apple's dashboard interface, since Apple's own Weather app has never supported CarPlay.
What the CarPlay screen actually does
According to the app's own release notes, the update adds "a preview of weather en route, and turn-by-turn navigation with automatic rerouting and weather alerts along your route that refresh as you drive." That means Storm Radar is not just displaying a static forecast on your dashboard. It is checking conditions ahead of your current route and can suggest a different path if the weather along the way turns dangerous.
The CarPlay build carries over the app's radar and precipitation map layers, along with current conditions for wherever you are driving. Alerts refresh automatically during a trip rather than requiring you to pull out your phone and reopen the app.
Why Apple's own Weather app can't do this
Apple has never added CarPlay support to its built-in Weather app, despite CarPlay carrying dedicated categories for navigation, music, and messaging apps for years. That gap has left drivers checking weather on their phone before a trip, or relying on whatever a navigation app's own alerts happen to show. Storm Radar, made by The Weather Channel, is stepping into that space directly rather than waiting on Apple.
What else came with version 4.0.19
The same release bundles several changes beyond CarPlay:
- New home screen widgets, including lock screen options
- A redesigned Apple Watch app
- 72-hour global radar coverage
- Expanded wildfire tracking with smoke visualization
- Improvements to personal weather station data
The update follows Storm Radar's push earlier this year to add an AI-driven forecast assistant to the app, part of a broader effort by The Weather Channel to differentiate the app from Apple's default option and from rivals like MyRadar and Weather & Radar, which has its own CarPlay and Android Auto integrations.
Who can use it and how to get it
The CarPlay screen requires Storm Radar version 4.0.19 or later, available now on the App Store worldwide at no extra cost. Existing users need to update the app and then add it through their car's CarPlay app list, the same way any other CarPlay-enabled app is added. No new subscription tier is required for the CarPlay feature itself, though some of Storm Radar's deeper forecasting tools sit behind the app's existing Premium subscription.
Because CarPlay support is tied to the app version rather than a server-side switch, there is no waiting period. If the update is live in your region's App Store, the CarPlay screen should appear as soon as you install it.
The bigger picture for CarPlay weather
CarPlay's app categories have filled in slowly since Apple opened them beyond navigation and audio. A dedicated weather-with-rerouting feature is a meaningful addition for anyone who drives through regions prone to sudden storms, since it puts route-specific alerts on the same screen as navigation instead of a separate app checked before leaving home. For drivers who already use Android Auto's live speedometer and navigation upgrades, this is the CarPlay side finally catching up on a feature Apple's own apps have skipped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apple's Weather app work with CarPlay?
No. Apple has never added CarPlay support to its built-in Weather app. Storm Radar, made by The Weather Channel, is one of the few weather apps that has built a dedicated CarPlay screen.
What does Storm Radar's CarPlay feature do?
It shows a preview of weather along your route directly on the CarPlay screen and can automatically reroute you around storms. Weather alerts refresh continuously as you drive, rather than only updating when you check the app manually.
What version of Storm Radar do I need for CarPlay?
Version 4.0.19 or later, released on the App Store on August 30, 2026. Update the app through the App Store, then add it to your car's CarPlay app list.
Is Storm Radar's CarPlay feature free?
The CarPlay screen itself does not require a paid subscription. Some of Storm Radar's more advanced forecasting tools remain part of the app's existing Premium tier, but CarPlay access is included with the free update.
What else changed in the Storm Radar update?
The same release added new home and lock screen widgets, a redesigned Apple Watch app, 72-hour global radar coverage, expanded wildfire smoke tracking, and improvements to personal weather station data.
