WRAL releases O-Fishel weather app for iPhone, iPad

The weather app, which quickly loads with a customized 7-day forecast, includes interactive maps that show current conditions and predicted weather down to street level.

By default, the data-rich app displays radar and forecast conditions based on the user’s current location. Users can view data layers that include: clouds and radar; temperature; rain, snow and ice accumulation; and wind.

Multi-touch screen navigation easily lets users zoom in and out and change locations on interactive radar and forecast maps. The latest video forecast from the WRAL WeatherCenter plays quickly from the main menu.

Users can specify more than a dozen locations anywhere in the United States and easily swipe the screen for current conditions and 7-day forecasts for each city. Background graphics for each selected location reflect current conditions.

As of Thursday morning, the new app was the No. 1 rated local weather app and No. 22 weather app overall in the iTunes App Store.

The application is branded as the O-Fishel Weather app, named after longtime WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel.

“We pride ourselves on offering the best and most in-depth weather coverage possible for our viewers and visitors,” said John Clark, general manager of WRAL.com. “Greg has been serving the WRAL viewing area for almost 30 years and has an unparalleled understanding of weather, especially in the Raleigh-Durham area. This application is truly an extension of his expertise and provides iPhone and iPad users with richest possible experience, right down to street-level maps and forecasts.”

The application was developed by News Over Wireless. Both WRAL.com and News Over Wireless are departments of CBC New Media, which is owned and operated by Raleigh-based Capitol Broadcasting Company.

“This application goes well beyond any other local weather offering available today,” said Sam Matheny, NOW general manager. “It provides a robust user experience based on dynamic weather information and local expertise, and it runs natively on the best-selling tablet and smartphone on the market. We know how important weather is to our stations and their viewers, and developing this application with Weather Central continues our tradition of providing the best-in-class applications that are both useful and profitable for our station partners.”

The new WRAL Weather app joins the comprehensive WRAL News app that runs on the iPhone, iPad and Android-powered devices. The new weather app can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store by searching for “WRAL” in the store, or going directly to the app preview page: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wral-weather/id428539534.

In addition to the weather app, WRAL has significantly upgraded its mobile website, http://m.wral.com, which is accessible from any mobile phone with a browser and Internet access. The new site has improved navigation and additional video and weather content, including access to all live video that is streamed on WRAL.com and recent newscasts. The site also features more photos and additional radar and satellite maps.

Android users can download one of several existing WRAL apps from the Android marketplace: WRAL News, HighSchoolOT and GoAskMom.