Most people check the weather on their iPhone or by asking a smart assistant. Recently, though, I’ve been using a new method: CarPlay. I like knowing what the weather will be when I leave my car, and with these three tips, I’ve found it to be especially convenient.
1
Choose a dedicated weather app
Pick which weather app you want to use as your main source
Before you can check the weather in CarPlay, you need to decide which primary weather app you want to use. The default option is the Apple Weather app, which is preloaded and integrated into the system, but other options are available as well.
The Weather app is useful for checking current conditions and longer-term forecasts, such as the weekly outlook, but it is not the most robust option. It also does not fully leverage your car’s infotainment display.
While the standard Weather app meets basic needs for checking conditions, several third-party weather apps offer more detailed insights. One I have tried for more visual data in CarPlay is MyRadar Accurate Weather Radarwhich lets me see real-time conditions such as wind and rain.
I make sure to download the app on my iPhone—since that is how it appears on CarPlay—and set it up with my current location information. I also ensure it is enabled to appear on my CarPlay home screen.
Having it on the home screen makes it easy to access when parked to check current weather conditions. This has helped me numerous times decide whether to bring an umbrella, especially if the radar shows it may be raining when I leave an appointment.
2
Let Siri be your weather-person
Ask Siri weather questions while driving
If you are satisfied with the information Apple’s Weather app provides and do not want to install a third-party app, you can use Siri to get weather updates spoken directly to you. This is great when you want to get hands-free updates while driving.
By pressing the voice command button on your steering wheel, holding down the home button on the CarPlay screen, or simply saying “Hey Siri” or “Siri,” you can ask a variety of weather-related questions. These can include current conditions, how the weather will change throughout the day, and what to expect over the coming week.
This has come in handy when I want to know the chance of rain later in the day while driving. It gives me a good idea of whether my hair will be fine or if I need to grab an umbrella to keep it dry.
For questions about today or a specific day of the week, a visual will appear on your car’s infotainment screen with the spoken information. This is the same visual you would see if you asked Siri the same question on your iPhone or iPad.
However, if you ask about the full day or the entire week, the response will be spoken only. Displaying all that information would take up the entire screen and make it feel cluttered.
This has come in handy on weeklong out-of-state trips with family and friends when we want to check the weather for our stay. It lets us get that information—and, depending on the question, see it on screen—while staying in the app we’re using, such as Maps for navigation.
Add one or more of the various weather widgets to your CarPlay setup
In iOS 26, Apple added widgets to CarPlay. Like on other Apple devices, widgets let you see useful information at a glance and can be easily swiped through.
To access them, continue swiping left to right past the CarPlay Dashboard. Depending on the size of your car’s infotainment screen, you may see one widget at a time or two side by side.
You can add and organize widgets the same way you manage CarPlay apps in your iPhone’s settings. There, you can customize which widgets appear and their order.
There are several weather widgets to choose from, each showing different types of information. These can range from basic temperature and forecast views to a full weekly outlook or sunrise and sunset times.
You can also view more detailed data, such as when precipitation is expected to begin, along with metrics like wind, air quality index, and the current “feels like” temperature.
I like having the weather widget easily accessible, especially when I’m listening to music and want to quickly check the weather. I don’t have to lower or pause the audio to summon Siri; I can simply swipe over to the widgets and see the information right away.
If your car supports a multi-widget display, you have more flexibility in what you see and how you use it.
You could place a music widget next to the weather widget for quick access to both while driving. Or, you could pair a navigation app like Google Maps alongside the weather widget to easily check timing before heading to your next destination.
Widgets can be very powerful, and adding a weather widget lets you get the information you need at a glance without having to speak or decide what to ask.
Have CarPlay help you be weather-prepared
The weather is one of the most important factors when driving. Knowing it helps you understand road conditions and what it will be like once you step out of the car.
Using these three CarPlay hacks, I’ve been able to stay informed about the weather; not just for my drive, but for later as well. I no longer get caught in the rain when leaving or returning to my car, because I know what to expect.
