WKYT FirstAlert Weather icon
WKYT FirstAlert Weather App Review: A Deep Dive into Hyperlocal Forecasting

by Gray Television Group, Inc.

4.8
IOSWeather
This app delivers precise, location-specific weather alerts and forecasts primarily for Kentucky audiences. Designed for viewers of WKYT News, it translates broadcast meteorology into a detailed mobile experience. If you need reliable, street-level storm tracking and daily planning tools for the Bluegrass region, this is a focused solution.

Detailed Review

The WKYT FirstAlert Weather app operates as the digital extension of the Gray Television-owned station's weather team, providing targeted forecasts for central and eastern Kentucky. It enters a crowded market of weather applications by emphasizing localized authority rather than global data aggregation. Its value proposition hinges on integrating the familiar on-air meteorologists and their forecasting methodologies into a user's pocket, creating a direct link between broadcast content and personal planning. Core functionality centers on the FirstAlert branding, with features like high-resolution futurecast radar, minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts, and severe weather alerting pushed directly from the newsroom. The app provides detailed hourly and 10-day forecasts, with specific parameters for dew point, wind gust, and UV index. A notable feature is the inclusion of live video feeds from WKYT, allowing users to watch live weather segments or updated forecast videos on demand, which bridges the gap between passive viewing and active information retrieval. In real-world use, the interface prioritizes immediate weather conditions and imminent threats. During a thunderstorm warning, the app can provide polygon-based tracking to show if a user's specific street is within the warning area. For daily use, such as planning a weekend hike in the Red River Gorge, the detailed hourly breakdowns of cloud cover and wind speed offer practical utility. The experience is generally intuitive, though some users note that the abundance of video content can lead to heavier data usage compared to simpler data-only apps. As a relatively new application, user reviews are still developing, but early feedback from regional users highlights appreciation for the precision of local alerts and the trust associated with the familiar weather team. Some feedback indicates a desire for more customizable alert thresholds beyond standard National Weather Service advisories. The lack of a broader, multi-region focus is seen as a strength by its target audience but a limitation for travelers seeking forecasts beyond the station's coverage map. Overall, the WKYT FirstAlert Weather app is a robust and highly specialized tool that succeeds in its primary goal: serving its local community with authoritative, timely weather information. Its strengths are its deep localization and integration with trusted broadcast resources. Its main limitation is its geographic specificity, making it less versatile for general use outside its intended coverage area. For residents within the WKYT viewing region, it represents a comprehensive and reliable first stop for weather information.

Key Features

  • Hyperlocal Futurecast Radar: Provides high-resolution, animated radar maps with street-level tracking for precise storm movement and precipitation timing in Kentucky.
  • FirstAlert Severe Weather Alerts: Delivers push notifications for warnings and watches issued specifically for the user's saved locations, often with context from WKYT meteorologists.
  • Live and On-Demand Video: Integrates live broadcasts and recorded forecast updates from the WKYT weather team directly within the app interface.
  • Detailed Hourly Forecasts: Offers comprehensive data for each hour including temperature, feels-like, wind, humidity, and precipitation probability for short-term planning.
  • Interactive 10-Day Forecast: Presents an extended outlook with high and low temperatures, precipitation chances, and general conditions for broader scheduling.

Why Users Love It

Unmatched local forecast precision
Direct integration with trusted meteorologists

Perfect for: Perfect for residents of central and eastern Kentucky who rely on WKYT for trusted weather coverage and want that same reliability on their mobile device.

Screenshots

WKYT FirstAlert Weather screenshot 1WKYT FirstAlert Weather screenshot 2WKYT FirstAlert Weather screenshot 3WKYT FirstAlert Weather screenshot 4WKYT FirstAlert Weather screenshot 5

Ranking History

Track WKYT FirstAlert Weather's performance in Weather over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#50

Best Rank

#50

All-time high

Average Rank

#50

30-day average

User Reviews

broadcuew
Jun 27, 2021

I’ve followed Chris for years he’s spot on more than any of the rest rock on !!!!!! Chris baliley the Charlie Daniels of weather men I’ve followed Chris for years he’s spot on more than any of the rest rock on !!!!!!

saved1972
May 30, 2025

I enjoy the weather app because I can check the weather any time of day or night. It’s also great for tracking storms. Weather watcher I enjoy the weather app because I can check the weather any time of day or night. It’s also great for tracking storms.

awelsome human
Mar 10, 2025

This app is good for telling you the most accurate weather forecast and will help you get dressed in the mornings. AWSOME This app is good for telling you the most accurate weather forecast and will help you get dressed in the mornings.

jstaylor1981
Feb 21, 2022

I like Chris Bailey is the best weatherman. WKYT First Alert Weather Rocks!!!! I like Chris Bailey is the best weatherman.

Sanibel woman
Dec 6, 2021

I love the way this app notifies me and then with one click it takes me to the radar!! Review of wkyt weather app I love the way this app notifies me and then with one click it takes me to the radar!!

App Details

Developer

Gray Television Group, Inc.

Platform

ios

Rating

4.8

Last Updated

12/12/2025