A major winter storm is set to hit the U.S., but Apple Weather forecasts are drawing criticism for outlandish, inconsistent snow predictions. The app often displays extreme totals days in advance, like over 30 inches for East Coast cities. This occurs because it pulls raw data from single models without the nuance human meteorologists provide.

Professional forecasters combine multiple weather models and wait closer to an event for specific predictions. Apple Weather lacks this contextual analysis, simply ingesting data from sources like the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel. This approach can cause unnecessary public panic and misrepresents the uncertainty inherent in long-range forecasting.

While useful for near-term alerts, the app's long-range accuracy is problematic. Experts recommend using multiple sources, especially local station apps or customizable third-party options like Carrot Weather. For severe weather, relying solely on a single automated forecast could leave you unprepared for power outages, ice, and actual snowfall.