Never Miss a Storm: How to Set Loud, Life-Saving Phone Weather Warnings Today

Never Miss a Storm: How to Set Loud, Life-Saving Phone Weather Warnings Today

Enable urgent weather alerts on your iPhone or Android to stay safe during storms. This Cool Tip shows how to configure your phone so that no critical alert slips through.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 19, 2025

Every year, people across the country are caught off guard by fast-moving storms and severe weather events. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Ensure Your Phone is Set for Warning Alerts.

Some never receive a timely warning, not because the technology doesn’t exist, but because the necessary alerts weren’t enabled on their phones. 

Whether due to misconfigured settings, silenced devices, or missed broadcasts, the consequences can be fatal. 

This Cool Tip helps ensure your phone is set up to alert you when every second counts.

What Does 50% Chance of Rain Actually Mean?

What Does 50% Chance of Rain Actually Mean?

Confused by your weather app's forecast? Here's the truth about those rain percentages—and why understanding them could change your plans (and your socks).

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 8, 2025

Ever canceled a picnic over a "50% chance of rain", only to see clear skies all day? 

Or risked a morning walk and got drenched under that same 50% forecast? 

If so, you're not alone. That single, slippery percentage confuses millions every day. 

It's one of the most misunderstood figures in modern weather forecasting.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Once you know what it really means, you’ll never look at a rain forecast the same way again.

Zoom Earth: Your Real-Time Window to the World 🌎

Zoom Earth: Your Real-Time Window to the World 🌎

Zoom Earth is a fascinating website that provides a live, interactive view of our planet, using real-time satellite imagery and weather data. Explore current weather patterns, track storms, or simply marvel at the beauty of Earth from space.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

November 19, 2024

Have you ever wanted to witness a hurricane swirling in the Atlantic Ocean? 

Or perhaps track the path of a wildfire raging in California? 

What about simply observing the cloud formations over your city? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Visit Zoom Earth.

With Zoom Earth, you can do all of this and more, right from your web browser.