--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "StormTracker 13" developer_entity: "Nexstar Broadcasting" bundle_id: "com.wowk.wowkstormtracker13" app_store_id: "564352071" google_play_id: "com.krdo.android.weather" category: "Weather" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Free" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-03-25" report_date: "2026-05-28" last_verified: "2026-05-28T07:20:14.898Z" report_version: "6.9.0" total_reviews: 215 overall_rating: 3.15 confidence: "low" confidence_score: 0.45 data_age_days: 18 momentum_velocity: "zombie" intelligence_version: 4 nemesis: "WSOC-TV Channel 9 Weather App" competitor_count: 11 tags: ["weather", "free", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "residents", "virginia,", "kentucky,"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/stormtracker-13" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # StormTracker 13 App Audit ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Weather · Free - **Signal**: Rating 3.15 > **TL;DR:** StormTracker 13 is a weather app by Nexstar Broadcasting, rated 3.15/5 by 215 users, available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** — Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** StormTracker 13 is a weather app by Nexstar Broadcasting. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 3.15/5 (215 reviews) | | **Category** | Weather | | **Developer** | Nexstar Broadcasting | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | Low (0.45/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 0d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Nexstar Broadcasting - **Category:** Weather - **Target Audience:** Residents of the West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Colorado regions who require localized, real-time severe weather monitoring. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Audited:** 6.9.0 - **Audit Date:** 2026-05-28 - **Signal Count:** 65 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** Low (0.45/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 564352071 - **Bundle ID:** com.wowk.wowkstormtracker13 - **Google Play ID:** com.krdo.android.weather - **Performance Trend:** Mixed - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-05-28 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** StormTracker 13 is a regional weather utility app for the Tri-State area, providing severe weather alerts and meteorologist-led forecasts on iOS and Android. **Why users hire it:** Users hire the app for hyper-local, personality-backed safety alerts that national weather apps lack, ensuring they receive actionable warnings before severe weather impacts their specific location. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Differentiator] Baron Tornado Index:** 1-to-10 ranking system for tornado probability in approaching storms, provided via push alerts. * *User Intent:* Users are driven by competitive achievement and recognition. - **[Standard] HD Dual Live Doppler Radar:** Interactive map with 250-meter resolution, including past and future radar layers. - **[Standard] Automated Severe Weather Alerts:** GPS-based push notifications for lightning and severe weather, triggered up to 15 minutes before impact. * *User Intent:* Users want timely prompts to stay engaged without missing updates. ## Market Position {#market-position} The app maintains a regional presence in the local news weather category, anchored by a 3.0 rating on Android and a 3.8 rating on iOS. The discrepancy between platform ratings signals inconsistent UI performance that threatens long-term retention. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free - **Tiers:** Free app with ad support - **Analysis:** Ad-supported model relies on high-frequency utility usage to generate inventory for local and regional advertisers. ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Trusted meteorologist-led brand connection in the Kanawha Valley - Hyper-local forecasting scope - Exclusive Baron Tornado Index alert system **Critical Frictions:** - 0.8★ Android-iOS rating gap - Aging interface design - Lack of multi-location tracking support **Growth Levers:** - Integration of school closure tracking - Expansion of wearable device support - B2B partnerships with local emergency services **Market Threats:** - AI-driven forecast accuracy from TempestOne - Superior radar responsiveness in WSOC-TV - Aesthetic-focused widget integration from competitors ## Recent Changes (v3 → v4) {#recent-changes} The app has pivoted from a pure stability-maintenance focus to addressing feature gaps and cross-platform UI performance discrepancies. **Overall trend**: Mixed **Compared at**: 2026-05-28 ### High-impact changes - **[Removed] Sentiment Data Unavailable** (sentiment) — User sentiment metrics (rating, review count, top praises/complaints) were removed from the current report. - **[Shifted] Executive Summary Focus** (positioning) — Narrative shifted from technical instability and launch failures to UI aging and lack of feature parity with AI-backed competitors. ### Medium-impact changes - **[Added] New SWOT Risk Factors** (swot) — Added weaknesses (0.8★ Android-iOS rating gap, aging UI) and threats (TempestOne AI accuracy, WSOC-TV radar responsiveness). - **[Shifted] PM Action Item Pivot** (positioning) — Action items shifted from launch sequence rebuilding to school closure tracking and Android UI performance audits. ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### StormTracker 13 vs WSOC-TV Channel 9 Weather App — Head to Head - **[WSOC-TV Channel 9 Weather App](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/com-cmgdigital-wsocweatheripad)** by Cox Media Group: This app is a direct functional competitor that dominates the local news weather category by leveraging high-volume user engagement and superior radar visualization. - **Key differences:** - Massive user review volume creates a social proof barrier that is difficult for smaller apps to overcome - Advanced location-based alerting infrastructure provides more granular safety notifications than the current StormTracker 13 implementation - High-resolution radar interface offers a smoother, more responsive user experience compared to the target's current radar - **Where StormTracker 13 wins:** - ✅ Deep integration with local meteorologist Spencer Adkins provides a unique, trusted personality-driven brand connection - ✅ Focused regional scope allows for more specialized, hyper-local forecasting than a broader media group app - **Where WSOC-TV Channel 9 Weather App wins:** - ❌ Significantly higher review count and rating indicate a more mature, battle-tested product development cycle - ❌ Superior technical infrastructure supports higher concurrent user loads during severe weather events without performance degradation - **Verdict:** The target must pivot toward hyper-local community engagement and exclusive meteorologist-led content to differentiate from the scale of this larger competitor. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[St. Cloud Live StormTRACKER](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/st-cloud-live-stormtracker)** by Forum Communications Company: This app mirrors the target's branding and feature set, directly competing for the same regional user base in the local news market. - Maintains a more consistent release cadence, ensuring the app remains optimized for the latest mobile operating systems - Focuses on high-resolution radar performance as a core value proposition to attract users during severe weather events - **[TempestOne Weather](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/tempestone-weather)** by WeatherFlow: It challenges the target by positioning itself as a professional-grade tool with advanced AI modeling and hardware-integrated data. - Utilizes proprietary Nearcast AI modeling to provide more accurate, localized forecasts than standard public weather models - Includes specialized lightning detection features that provide a safety edge for outdoor-focused or professional users - **[Weather ++++](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/weather-5)** by Touchberry: This app targets the aesthetic-conscious weather user, competing for screen time through superior visual customization and widget support. - Offers deep home screen widget integration that keeps the app relevant without requiring users to open it - Visual-first design language prioritizes user interface aesthetics over the raw data-heavy approach of the target app - **[KXLY Weather](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/kxly-weather)** by Evening Telegram Company: It competes for the same regional news-based weather audience by offering similar utility features like school closures and radar. - Includes dedicated school closure and delay tracking which is a high-value feature for local family demographics - Supports favorite location management, allowing users to track weather across multiple regions within a single interface ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[WKRN Weather Authority](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/com-youngmedia-wkrn)** by LIN Television Corporation: A peer in the local television news weather category, competing for the same audience through live streaming and radar utility. - Prioritizes live streaming video content, keeping users engaged with meteorologist commentary during breaking weather events - Maintains a large, established user base that provides significant data for refining local forecast accuracy - **[SkyGuard®](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/utilities/skyguard)** by AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions, Inc.: It competes in the enterprise and high-utility space, focusing on professional-grade weather warnings for specific assets. - Provides asset-specific weather warnings that allow users to monitor risks for precise locations or business properties - Includes 360-degree lightning tracking, offering a level of precision that exceeds standard consumer-grade weather applications - **[Post Bulletin StormTRACKER](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/post-bulletin-stormtracker)** by Forum Communications Company: This is a direct peer in the local media weather space, utilizing similar naming conventions and feature sets for regional audiences. - Features dynamic forecasting models that adapt to changing local conditions faster than static daily forecast updates - Provides robust location awareness that automatically triggers alerts based on the user's current geographic position - **[Florida Storms](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/com-mobiquityinc-floridastorms)** by University of Florida: It serves as a peer in the public-interest weather space, focusing on emergency preparedness and radio-integrated information streams. - Integrates a live FPREN radio stream, providing critical audio updates during power outages or network instability - Operates as a public service tool, building trust through academic backing rather than commercial broadcasting incentives ### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative) - **[Turbulence Forecast - Flight+](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/turbulence-forecast-flight)** by Brite Technologies: This app disrupts the general weather space by providing niche, high-value data for aviation-focused users. - Provides route-based turbulence forecasts and live PIREP data, offering specialized utility that general weather apps lack - **[Roam Weather](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/roam-weather)** by BareBones Dev, LLC: A newcomer focusing on the travel and multi-location segment, challenging the target's static regional focus. - Enables offline access to forecasts, a critical feature for travelers moving through areas with poor connectivity ## App Momentum (Zombie) {#momentum} - Ships stability updates for Android. - Maintains regional meteorologist-led content. > **Cadence:** 5 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 847 days since last update ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} StormTracker 13 is an established weather app that is completely free. With a 3.15/5 rating from 215 reviews, it shows polarized user reception. > **Bottom Line:** StormTracker 13 holds its regional lead through trusted meteorologist content but bleeds users to modern, responsive competitors, so revenue growth hinges on tightening the UI friction and adding high-value local utilities like school closures. **Best for:** Residents of the West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Colorado regions who require localized, real-time severe weather monitoring. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [INVEST] [HIGH IMPACT] Ship school closure tracking because it is a high-value feature for local families → capture family-demographic segment. — *Competitor KXLY Weather successfully uses school closure tracking to attract family demographics.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Pause the radar UI refresh — school closures have a higher immediate impact on regional user acquisition.)_ - [ ] [MAINTAIN] [MEDIUM IMPACT] Audit Android UI performance because of the 0.8★ rating gap → reduce churn among Android users. — *The Android rating is significantly lower than the iOS rating, indicating platform-specific technical friction.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Deprioritize new feature development for the next two sprints to focus on technical debt.)_ ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - School closure and delay tracking (available in KXLY Weather but absent here) - Multi-location favorite management (available in KXLY Weather but absent here) - Offline forecast access (available in Roam Weather but absent here) ### Outlook: Mixed The local weather market is consolidating around apps that offer high-resolution radar and multi-location utility. StormTracker 13 remains exposed due to its static feature set, so the PM must prioritize technical parity to prevent further erosion of the Android user base. - 🔴 The Android-iOS rating gap indicates persistent technical friction on the Android platform, which erodes user trust and limits growth in that segment. - 🟢 The exclusive Baron Tornado Index provides a unique safety utility that keeps the app relevant for high-intent users during severe weather events. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 3.15/5 | | Total Reviews | 215 | | Confidence | Low | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Mixed | | Outlook | Mixed | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **StormTracker 13** (this app) | 3.15/5 | N/A | Nexstar Broadcasting | | [WKRN Weather Authority](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/com-youngmedia-wkrn) | 3.6/5 | Frustrated | LIN Television Corporation | | [Florida Storms](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/com-mobiquityinc-floridastorms) | 3.8/5 | Frustrated | University of Florida | | [WSOC-TV Channel 9 Weather App](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/com-cmgdigital-wsocweatheripad) | 4.8/5 | Mixed | Cox Media Group | | [TempestOne Weather](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/tempestone-weather) | 4.4/5 | Mixed | WeatherFlow | | [KXLY Weather](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/kxly-weather) | 2.8/5 | N/A | Evening Telegram Company | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Nexstar Broadcasting ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stormtracker-13/id564352071?uo=4) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.krdo.android.weather&hl=en&gl=us) - **Sources:** App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*WKRN Weather Authority*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/com-youngmedia-wkrn) (LIN Television Corporation) — 3.6/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*Florida Storms*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/com-mobiquityinc-floridastorms) (University of Florida) — 3.8/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*WSOC-TV Channel 9 Weather App*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/com-cmgdigital-wsocweatheripad) (Cox Media Group) — 4.8/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*TempestOne Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/tempestone-weather) (WeatherFlow) — 4.4/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*KXLY Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/kxly-weather) (Evening Telegram Company) — 2.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Turbulence Forecast - Flight+*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/turbulence-forecast-flight) (Brite Technologies) — 5.0/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Weather ++++*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/weather-5) (Touchberry) — 4.7/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Post Bulletin StormTRACKER*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/post-bulletin-stormtracker) (Forum Communications Company) — 4.7/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*St. Cloud Live StormTRACKER*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/st-cloud-live-stormtracker) (Forum Communications Company) — 4.6/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Roam Weather*](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/roam-weather) (BareBones Dev, LLC) — 5.0/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** — Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** — Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** — Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction and evidence quoting. 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** — Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** — Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.45/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 65 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 0 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/stormtracker-13) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.