GrayCloud
a modern Dark Sky alternative
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What is GrayCloud?
GrayCloud is a hyperlocal weather app and website designed to provide minute-by-minute local rain prediction through its Raincast feature. The tool measures rainfall at your exact location with precise current, hourly, daily, and extended forecasts. It serves as a modern alternative to DarkSky, offering users highly accurate rain predictions that track accumulation specific to their location.
Key features include customizable widgets for home and lock screens, advanced radar maps to watch storm movements, severe-weather notifications from the National Weather Service, and daily summary alerts. The app supports multi-platform usage across iOS, web, watchOS, and macOS, with no account or email registration required for consumer use. Users can receive push notifications for rain starting, stopping, and severe weather conditions like tornado warnings, flash-flood warnings, and hurricane warnings.
GrayCloud is ideal for individuals who need reliable local rain forecasts for daily planning, outdoor activities, commuting, and travel. The app combines multiple numerical weather models (NOAA and ECMWF) with observational data sources and a custom model for rain accumulation calculation. It also offers Apple WeatherKit as an alternative weather data source for users who prefer different data providers.
GrayCloud pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
The consumer app and website are free to use without an account, email, or registration. Early access is available on TestFlight for users providing feedback before launch. The Developer API at /dev is a separate paid service with its own account and billing flow, offering bulk forecast data with request allowances and per-request overage rates. Current plans and rates are published on the pricing page, with subscription fees being non-refundable except where required by law or material mistakes.
GrayCloud pros
- Minute-by-minute local rain prediction with Raincast
- Hyperlocal forecasts at your exact location
- Customizable widgets for home and lock screens
- Multi-platform support: iOS, web, watchOS, macOS
- No account or email registration required
- Severe weather alerts from National Weather Service
- Advanced radar maps showing storm movements
- Rain accumulation tracking specific to location
- 10-day forecasts with bias adjustment for area
- Daily summary alerts and notifications
- Real Feel temperature display option
- Quick scroll through locations feature
- Supports both Celsius and Fahrenheit units
- iPad native UI with improved interface
- Mac app now available
- Global rain forecast improved for non-US locations
- Live Activities only for current location
- Settings to customize buttons and map layers
- Dew point comfort scale data included
- System defaults for temperature and units
GrayCloud cons
- Forecasts are best-effort, not guaranteed
- Android users only on waitlist (no app yet)
- May be inaccurate as weather changes faster than models
- Push delivery depends on Apple Push Notification service
- Not suitable for life-or-death decisions
- Does not replace National Weather Service warnings
- Rain model less accurate for non-US locations historically
- Limited severe weather area coverage depending on region
- No bulk forecast data without Developer API signup
- TestFlight early access only (not fully launched)
Frequently asked questions about GrayCloud
What is GrayCloud's Raincast feature?
Raincast provides minute-by-minute local rain prediction that measures rainfall at your exact location and tracks accumulation specific to your area. It's a hyperlocal feature that gives you precise current rain forecasts updated continuously.
Do I need to create an account to use GrayCloud?
No account is required. The consumer apps and public weather pages can be used without an account, email, or any registration. You can start using GrayCloud immediately.
Is GrayCloud available on Android?
GrayCloud is not yet available on Android. Android users can join the waitlist to be notified when the app launches on their platform.
What platforms does GrayCloud support?
GrayCloud is available on iOS, web, watchOS, and macOS. The app also works on iPad with a native UI and includes a Mac app that was released in version 1.0.38.
How accurate are GrayCloud's forecasts?
Forecasts are best-effort and not guaranteed. GrayCloud combines multiple numerical weather models (NOAA and ECMWF) with observational data, but conditions on the ground can change faster than any model tracks. Any forecast may be wrong, so use them for planning, not life-or-death decisions.
What severe weather alerts does GrayCloud provide?
GrayCloud sends push notifications for tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, flash-flood warnings, hurricane warnings, and similar severe weather events from the National Weather Service that intersect your saved or current location.
Can I use GrayCloud for critical safety decisions like evacuating?
No. For decisions affecting safety, livelihood, or others (evacuating from storms, flying aircraft, working at sea, deploying field crews), consult the National Weather Service and local emergency management authorities. Do not rely on GrayCloud for those decisions.
What weather data sources does GrayCloud use?
GrayCloud's pipeline combines NOAA and ECMWF numerical weather models with observational data sources. It also uses a custom model that calculates rain accumulation and predicts radar movements for the next 60 minutes. Apple Weatherkit is offered as an alternative weather data source.
How do I get early access to GrayCloud?
You can join the TestFlight for early access by clicking the 'Join TestFlight' button on the website. This allows you to provide feedback before the official launch.
What is the GrayCloud Developer API?
The Developer API at /dev is a separate paid service for bulk forecast data with its own account and billing flow. It includes request allowances per plan, per-request overage rates for requests above your allowance, and rate limiting options. It's separate from the free consumer app and requires signing up with billing email.