For those of us who live inland , hurricane-tracking seems more a curious indulgence , but if you live along the coastal regions in a hurricane zone , keeping tabs on these atmospheric leviathans is paramount . Here 's a rundown of 2012′s top hurricane tracking apps for those on the go with tablets or smartphones . Hurricane Tracker ( iOS ) My pick of the bunch , EZ Apps ' $ 2.99 Hurricane Tracker offers detailed storm maps , National Hurricane Center info , threat level maps , audio/video forecast updates , real-time feeds and push alerts . It also employs my favorite interface , giving you four simple categories at launch — hurricanes , tropical storms , tropical depressions and invests — to drill on , with a `` quick headlines '' blurb and `` current systems '' maps when you scroll down the page . The number of maps ( including animated ) and images crammed into this app — EZ Apps claims over 65 — is worth the price of admission alone . Hurricane Hound ( Android ) Hurricane Hound uses Google Maps as its framework and tracks both forecasts and the locations of Atlantic and East Pacific hurricanes and tropical storms , points out areas the National Weather Service is keeping tabs on and offers standard NWS `` tropical outlooks and discussions , public advisories , forecasts , and satellite imagery . '' Fair warning : The free version of Hurricane Hound has n't been updated in over a year , and it looks like the $ 1.99 add-free version is where developer STKI Concepts is focusing its attention , recently adding support for `` current radar and weather satellite overlays . '' Hurricane / Hurricane HD ( iOS ) Developer Kitty Code 's longstanding $ 2.99 hurricane-watching app ( updated in June ) offers a repository of global meteorological information , including tracking maps , satellite views , five-day forecasts , radar and bulletins from the National Hurricane Center . Pull up Hurricane Isaac and you can see information about wind speed , storm speed and direction as well as follow it from its genesis off the west coast of Africa in mid-August through its current position several hundred miles southeast of the Mississippi River Delta . Probably the app 's most valuable function : using iOS 's locational services to determine how far away you are . If all you need is tracking for the Atlantic , Caribbean , Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern and Central Pacific , Kitty Code offers Hurricane Express , a cheaper $ 0.99 version that eschews the app 's global features , and if you 're looking for the tablet-optimized version of Hurricane , Kitty Code offers Hurricane HD for $ 3.99 , which adds `` exclusive '' video and blog updates from HurricaneTrack.com . Hurricane Software ( Android ) When I checked in last , Hurricane Software was a promising beta freebie . It 's now out of beta — still free , though ad-littered ( there 's a $ 2.99 ad-free `` Pro '' version ) — and packing hurricane data from the National Hurricane Center , high resolution maps , satellite images , warning information and storm tracks . iHurricane HD ( iOS ) iHurricane HD is free with ads , distinguishing itself from the pack by tucking a few features behind an in-app paywall . Out of the gate , you can track hurricanes using satellite and radar data , stage email alerts and gauge your distance from `` each coordinate of the storm . '' But if you want the app 's push services , `` more space on the main map '' and to banish those annoying ads that sit at the top of the screen , you 'll have to fork over $ 2.99 through an in-app purchase option . Hurricane -- American Red Cross ( Android , iOS ) Last but not least , Hurricane -- American Red Cross for both Android or iOS is a newer , totally free addition to Android 's growing hurricane-tracking stable , but it 's more than just a tracker — this app lets you `` monitor conditions in your area or throughout the storm track , prepare your family and home , find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out . '' It 's a little light on meteorological data , but think of it as the `` safety first '' tracker , and check out the video below for a few examples of it in action .
Isaac appears to weaken , but hurricane tracking still important . Apps for tablets and smartphones let coastal residents keep tabs . Both Android and Apples iOS have multiple options . The Red Cross hurricane app is free and lets you track local conditions .