A radar window that lives on your desktop.
When weather is moving in, you don't want to keep re-opening a map. Forecast Bar's radar opens in its own standalone window — resize it, park it on a second monitor, and let the animation run while you work.
- Standalone radar window with smooth animated playback
- Future radar shows frames ahead of now, not just behind
- Tear-away forecast panels stay open beside the radar
- Multi-monitor aware, like the rest of Forecast Bar
Warnings on the map, alerts in Notification Center.
For US locations, NWS severe weather warnings are drawn directly on the radar so you can see exactly which areas are under a warning. And you don't have to be watching: alerts land natively in Notification Center the moment they're issued.
- NWS warning polygons drawn on the map (US locations)
- Severe weather alerts at the moment of issue
- Precipitation nowcasts before the rain reaches you
- Custom alerts on 14 data points, with quiet hours
Layers for more than "is it raining?"
Radar is the headline, but the same map answers a lot of other questions — switch layers instead of switching apps.
Live precipitation
Worldwide radar-derived precipitation, animated so you can watch systems move through.
Future radar
Frames ahead of now, so you can judge whether that cell hits you or slides past.
Precipitation type
Rain, snow, and mix rendered distinctly — useful when the temperature is on the line.
Live lightning
Strikes plotted on the map as storms move through, alongside the precipitation.
Satellite
Cloud cover from above, for the systems radar can't see yet.
24-hour totals
Accumulated precipitation over the last day — how much actually fell, and where.
Temperature & wind
Regional temperature and wind maps for the bigger picture behind the forecast.
Aurora forecasts
See where the northern lights may be visible — and pair it with an aurora alert.
NWS warnings
Severe weather warning polygons drawn on the map for US locations.
An honest note: macOS ships with a weather map.
The built-in Weather app on macOS includes a maps view with precipitation and a few other layers. If you only occasionally glance at rain on a map, it's free and may genuinely be enough.
Forecast Bar earns its place when radar is a tool you actually use: a standalone window you can keep open beside your work, future radar, live lightning, 24-hour totals, aurora forecasts, warnings drawn on the map, and a menu bar app around it so the rest of the forecast is one click away.
Questions about radar on the Mac
Does the Mac have built-in weather radar?
Can I keep the radar open while I work?
Does the radar work outside the United States?
What radar layers does Forecast Bar for Mac include?
Can Forecast Bar show where lightning is striking?
How much does Forecast Bar for Mac cost?
Put real radar on your desktop.
Try everything free for 24 hours — no card, no subscription required to start.
Free 24-hour access, then optional subscription with 7-day trial. Mac and iOS plans are separate; Apple TV is included with Forecast Bar Gold on iOS.
More from Forecast Bar
Mac menu bar weather
Up to five configurable menu bar items, with a 48-hour timeline and 15-day outlook one click away.
Forecast Bar on Setapp
Forecast Bar Pro is included with a Setapp membership, rated 94% from 729 ratings.
Alerts that matter
Severe weather at the moment of issue, rain nowcasts, and custom alerts on 14 data points.
Forecast Bar vs. Apple Weather
A factual comparison — including when the built-in app is genuinely enough.
iPhone weather widgets
12+ Home and Lock Screen widgets, StandBy, and Live Activities that track rain minute by minute.
Weather on Apple TV
Radar, forecasts, and Top Shelf weather on the biggest screen in the house.