Utilities · iOS
Weather Radar - Ora Channel
by Impala Studios






Weather Radar by Impala Studios has been around since 2013 and carries over 250,000 ratings at a 4.58 average, which is hard to ignore. Version 6.0.1, updated as recently as June 2026, keeps the app feeling current. The core pitch is simplicity over data overload: you get a live radar, a 7-day forecast, 15-minute rain timing, and government severe-weather advisories, all aimed at answering one question before you walk out the door.
Glanceability Done Right
The app's strongest argument is its speed of comprehension. Rain timing for the next 15 minutes is genuinely practical, the kind of feature that answers 'do I sprint to my car now or wait five minutes?' without digging through menus. The live radar adds spatial context, letting you watch precipitation cells move rather than just reading a percentage chance. For casual users who find most weather apps exhausting, this restraint is a real advantage.
The Ora+ Paywall Friction
The free tier gives you a 7-day forecast and basic radar, which covers most daily needs. However, the more useful planning tools, including minute-by-minute radar up to 12 hours ahead and a 14-day hourly forecast, sit behind the Ora+ subscription. Severe-weather advisories from government sources are available in the free tier, which is a meaningful inclusion. Still, users who want the deeper radar history or extended hourly breakdown will hit a prompt fairly quickly.
Who Should Download It
Ora fits someone who checks weather on the go and wants an answer, not a meteorology lesson. The 164 MB install is reasonable for a radar-capable app. A 13-year track record and consistent updates suggest Impala Studios is actively maintaining it rather than coasting. Power users who want raw model data or multiple forecast sources may find the simplified presentation limiting, but for the majority of phone users it covers the practical bases well.
Pros
- 15-minute rain timing is a practical, fast-answer feature
- Live radar shows precipitation movement rather than static snapshots
- Government severe-weather advisories included at no cost
- Long track record since 2013 with active updates through 2026
- Clean, glanceable layout reduces time spent in the app
Cons
- Minute-by-minute extended radar and 14-day hourly forecast require a paid subscription
- 164 MB install is noticeable for users with limited storage
- Simplified design may feel too thin for users who want raw forecast model data
- Free tier radar depth is not fully specified, making the value split hard to judge upfront