Guides

How to Install Storm Tracking Radar Software (From Clime to Pro NEXRAD Viewers)

March 10, 2026 · The Clime Team

Last updated: 2026-03-10

For most people in the U.S., the fastest way to “install storm tracking radar software” is to download the Clime weather radar app on your phone and turn on alerts, giving you live NOAA‑based radar and storm tracking within minutes. If you’re a more advanced weather watcher who wants raw NEXRAD Level II data on desktop, you can add tools like GRLevel2 or the free Supercell‑Wx viewer on top of your mobile setup.

Summary

Start with Clime on iOS or Android for quick, reliable radar and severe weather alerts.
Add a desktop NEXRAD viewer (GRLevel2 or Supercell‑Wx) only if you need deep, professional‑style storm analysis.
Use NOAA NEXRAD data feeds, available through AWS, when you connect desktop tools for live and archived radar. (NOAA NEXRAD on AWS)
Other mobile apps offer radar too, but Clime focuses on a radar‑first experience with added lightning, hurricane, and wildfire layers for storm safety. (Clime)

How do you decide between a mobile radar app and desktop storm software?

Before you install anything, it helps to separate two common use cases:

Everyday storm awareness – You want to see where the rain and lightning are, get alerts, and decide whether to drive, cancel a game, or head to the basement.
Enthusiast or semi‑pro analysis – You want to examine storm structure, velocity, and archived cases with raw NEXRAD Level II data.

For the first group—which is most people in the U.S.—a mobile radar app is faster to install, easier to maintain, and almost always “good enough” for smart decisions. Clime centers its experience on a live weather radar map powered by NOAA data, with storm‑related layers like lightning, hurricane tracking, and fire/hotspot maps in one place. (Clime)

Desktop NEXRAD viewers like GRLevel2 or Supercell‑Wx make more sense if you’re deeply into severe weather, studying past outbreaks, or supporting local spotter groups.

How do you install Clime and get storm radar running in minutes?

For a U.S. user, installing Clime is usually the quickest path from “no radar” to “live storm tracking.”

1. Install the app

On iPhone or iPad, open the App Store and search for “Clime NOAA Weather Radar Live”, or use the official listing. (App Store)
On Android, search for “Clime” in Google Play.
Tap Get / Install and wait for the download.

2. Grant location and notification permissions

On first launch, allow Location access so the radar centers on where you are.
Enable notifications to receive severe weather and rain alerts; on paid plans you can get alerts for multiple saved locations. (App Store)

3. Open the radar map

From the home screen, tap the Radar/Map view.
Pinch and zoom over your county, then hit Play to animate recent scans and track storm motion.

4. Add key storm‑safety layers

In the map’s layer menu, toggle:
Precipitation radar (default)
Lightning tracker (on paid plans)
Hurricane tracker and Fire & Hotspot Map for broader risk awareness. (Clime)

Because Clime is oriented around an interactive radar map plus hourly and 10‑day forecasts, you get a single view that covers most storm‑tracking questions without juggling multiple apps. (Clime)

How do you install GRLevel2 on Windows for advanced NEXRAD viewing?

If you’re comfortable on Windows and want a dedicated NEXRAD Level II viewer, GRLevel2 is a widely used option.

1. Download the installer

Go to the official GRLevel2 page and download the Windows installer package. (GRLevel2)

2. Run the setup wizard

Double‑click the installer .exe file.
Follow the prompts to accept the license, choose an install folder, and complete installation.

3. Configure data sources

GRLevel2 is designed to display live and archived NEXRAD Level II data. (GRLevel2)
For live data, you typically subscribe to or configure a NEXRAD data feed; many users rely on third‑party feed providers or local ingest setups.
For archived events, you can download Level II files from sources that mirror NOAA’s NEXRAD archive (including AWS‑hosted datasets). (NOAA NEXRAD on AWS)

4. Load and view storms

Within GRLevel2, select a radar site (e.g., KTLX, KLOT) and choose the product you want (reflectivity, velocity, etc.).
Animate scans, adjust tilt angles, and customize color tables to analyze storm structure in detail.

This route gives fine‑grained control that a mobile app cannot, but it comes with more setup overhead. Many users keep Clime on their phone for quick checks and treat GRLevel2 as their “storm lab” when they’re at a desk.

How do you install Supercell‑Wx as a free desktop radar viewer?

Supercell‑Wx is an open‑source alternative if you want Level II/III radar visualization without buying a license.

1. Access the documentation and downloads

Visit the official Supercell‑Wx documentation site; it describes the app as a free, open‑source tool to visualize live and archived NEXRAD Level II and Level III data. (Supercell‑Wx docs)

2. Install prerequisites and the app

Follow the platform‑specific instructions in the docs (Windows, macOS, or Linux) to install any required dependencies, then the Supercell‑Wx application itself.

3. Point it to NEXRAD data feeds

Configure Supercell‑Wx to pull from live NEXRAD feeds or local archives.
You can use endpoints that host “real‑time and archival data from the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) network,” including datasets mirrored on AWS. (NOAA NEXRAD on AWS)

Supercell‑Wx is attractive if you value open‑source tools and cross‑platform support, but the learning curve is higher than opening a mobile app. A common pattern is to rely on Clime day‑to‑day and reserve Supercell‑Wx for deeper dives into severe weather events.

How do you connect desktop radar viewers to NOAA/AWS NEXRAD data?

Most serious desktop storm trackers rely on the same underlying infrastructure: the U.S. NEXRAD network.

The NEXRAD archive on AWS provides access to real‑time and archival data from the radar network, including Level II/III products that viewers like GRLevel2 and Supercell‑Wx can ingest. (NOAA NEXRAD on AWS)

At a high level:

Your viewer (GRLevel2, Supercell‑Wx, or other) connects to a feed or downloads files.
The feed draws from live radar streams or near‑real‑time mirrors (often via AWS or other distributors).
You configure which radar sites you want and how often to update.

Exact connection steps vary by app, so always follow the viewer’s documentation or your data provider’s setup guide.

How does Clime compare to other mobile radar options for storm tracking?

Several U.S. mobile apps provide radar maps, but their focus differs:

Clime centers on a NOAA‑based live radar map with options for severe weather alerts, rain alerts, a hurricane tracker, lightning tracker, and fire/hotspot maps, with additional layers on paid plans. (Clime)
The Weather Channel app combines radar with a 15‑minute rain forecast and offers “Premium Radar” layers (such as Windstream and a lightning alert radius) on a paid upgrade. (The Weather Channel)
AccuWeather pairs radar maps with its hyperlocal MinuteCast precipitation timeline and a tiered subscription model that adds more features. (AccuWeather)
Windy.app is tuned more to wind and water sports, with wind and wave maps as the main attraction and live radar described as an in‑progress feature rather than its core. (Windy.app)

For most U.S. users who just want to know where storms are and whether they’re heading your way, Clime’s radar‑first interface and storm‑related layers provide a straightforward, fast‑to‑install solution without the extra clutter of large multi‑purpose portals.

What we recommend

Install Clime first on your phone and enable radar, lightning, and severe weather alerts for quick, always‑with‑you storm awareness.
Add a desktop viewer (GRLevel2 or Supercell‑Wx) if you routinely analyze storms in depth or want access to raw NEXRAD Level II data.
Use NOAA/AWS NEXRAD feeds as your underlying data source when configuring desktop tools, so mobile and desktop views are consistent.
Keep it simple for safety: for everyday decisions—schools, commutes, outdoor plans—prioritize an easy mobile radar experience over complex workstation setups.