As I have highlighted in the past, weather when you are on the go is critical these days. You may be aware that WeatherBug has a weather application for Windows Mobile, but I am willing to bet that you did not know that they also provide BlackBerry users with a WeatherBug application as well?

As seen on on the Built For BlackBerry website, this built for BlackBerry application provides users with the following:

• Live, streaming local weather from over 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations located across the U.S.
• Severe weather alerts
• Detailed seven-day forecasts
• Animated local radar and time-lapse images
  from more than 1,000 weather cameras
• International weather information

What does it look like, how does it “feel”? Take a look at the following photos for an idea of how this application will appear on your BlackBerry.

After initial loading, you are presented with the current temperature (based on your previously selected location and chosen local weather station) . Along with this as you can see, you will have immediate access to upcoming conditions for that evening as well. At the top of the current screen, you see the name of the selected weather station for your area. This is key as you would want to navigate up to this as a link, then use your toggling selection device to click this for more local weather details.

And here is the resulting screen, providing you with more information on your current conditions:

• Temp
• Wind Chill
• Average Wind
• Humidity
• Dew point
• Pressure
• Sunrise
• Sunset
• Monthly rain

Then goes on to display, further down the screen.

• High for today (so far)
• Low for today (so far)
• Rain thus far
• Rain rate thus far
• Wind Gusts thus far

Then as we go back to the main WeatherBug screen display, we can select the forecast information provided below, then click on it. You will see the following.

Here we see the descriptive forecast, along with lows and highs for the day as well. Using BB’s trackball navigation, I have immediate access the forecast for this evening and finally, on to future days of the week for helpful planning.

Where is the need for this kind of data? I can think of a number of real world situations where owning a BlackBerry, having access to this kind of weather data could prove to be a real hassle saver. Here are just a few examples that come to mind.

• Exterior painters
• Construction foremen and general contractors
• Survey teams
• Various city and county workers such as “public works” type departments
• This list goes on, just about anyone needing to do any sort of outside planning where weather can be an obstacle for planning.

Needed prerequisites before using this WeatherBug application for your BlackBerry:

• Make sure you have an unlimited data plan before using. I am not talking about unlimited SMS, I mean one of the following BlackBerry data plans with your wireless provider: BlackBerry Personal or BlackBerry Enterprise.
• If this is a work issued device you are using, be sure to always check with management before ever installing a non-issued BlackBerry application. More than likely, it is fine, but I would not want to get anyone in trouble based on a blind assumption.
• The application’s performance is going to be largely dependent on the data plan offered by your wireless carrier. So if you find that it is connecting more often than desired, stop and consider that it may be your BB trying to sync something else at the same time. It will all work out as BB is great about this kind of thing, but do not become alarmed if you see a blue screen with the words “connecting”. This is just the WeatherBug application stepping aside while other funcionality with your BB is syncing at that moment. This should be expected.