Washington State University announced on May 18 that it has launched a new app providing free, real-time weather information to anyone in Washington. The AgWeatherNet app, now available on iOS and soon on Android, delivers site-specific forecasts and data updated every five minutes from approximately 370 weather stations across the state.
The launch of the app is significant for both the agricultural industry and general public, offering customizable features that meet a range of needs. Lav Khot, director of AgWeatherNet and professor at WSU’s Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, said: “There’s something for every user in the app. We wanted to offer regular weather information that anyone can use and provide deeper data insights that are vital for the agriculture industry.”
Users can personalize their experience by selecting their nearest station to access current temperatures, two-day forecasts, air quality indexes, or more advanced settings such as multiple locations or AI-driven decision support tools. Farmers can forecast crop-specific water demands or cattle comfort levels. Sanjita Bhavirisetty, an AgWeatherNet analyst who co-developed the app, said: “We’re trying to optimize the user experience so it’s easier and accessible for everyone. The new generation of growers wants more technology that’s easily accessible. We heard and worked with them to develop the app. We are here to help growers; that’s our main goal.”
To accommodate Washington’s bilingual agricultural workforce, all features are available in English and Spanish. Users may also toggle between metric and imperial units as needed for different types of data.
The previous version of an AgWeatherNet app was discontinued due to funding constraints but was missed by industry partners who valued quick access to weather information through mobile devices rather than web browsers.
The new version is completely free with no login required; users can opt into location tracking or set a primary station manually without storing any personal data. Dheeraj Vurukuti, web developer at AgWeatherNet who led development efforts, said: “We understand some people have concerns about privacy and we take that seriously. We are not interested in storing and using individual user data. We only want to provide a useful place to get weather information.”
Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), commented: “This app is a fantastic example of WSU’s land-grant mission in action. It’s easily accessible to a wide array of people, is user friendly, and serves a basic need for both the agriculture industry and the general public.”
Feedback from users has been positive so far according to Khot: “We’re getting lots of positive feedback already,” he said. “We’ve made several changes based on what we’ve heard. We’re here to help agricultural stakeholders, and this app is a direct way to accomplish that.”
