If you’re someone who relies on your local TV news station’s weather forecast, then you’ll be thrilled to hear about a new feature on Echo Show smart displays that makes it easier to watch these forecasts on demand. Amazon has partnered with local news channels to automatically surface their most recent weather news videos when you ask Alexa, “What’s the weather?”
Living in a coastal city with frequent hurricane, flood, and severe weather warnings, I understand the importance of having access to accurate weather information. Local meteorologists are often the best source of information for staying safe and dry. However, it’s not always feasible to tune in to the news on the 8s, especially for cord-cutters. Additionally, finding weather videos on local news station websites can be a pain.
With hurricane season fast approaching, the new feature on Echo Show devices caught my attention. Unfortunately, it’s not available in my city yet. However, Amazon spokesperson Eric Sveum informed me that it is currently available in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix, Chicago, Milwaukee, Fresno, Omaha, Toledo, and San Antonio. He also mentioned that Amazon plans to expand the feature and is considering offering it wherever there are local news stations.
To test the feature, I requested the weather in a supported city by saying, “Alexa, what’s the weather in New York City?” on an Echo Show 15. The screen displayed the usual forecast and current weather conditions, with thumbnail videos of local forecasts from multiple news stations along the bottom.
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Fortunately, the videos don’t autoplay, so I had to tap on one to start playing it. The video opened in full screen and began with the typical news anchor banter with the meteorologist before diving into the forecast. However, in some videos, it wasn’t immediately clear when the video was from, so a time stamp would be helpful in such cases.
Aside from using voice commands, you can also access the videos by tapping the Alexa weather widget. This brings up the same screen with the available videos. To add a widget to an Echo Show, simply swipe left from the edge of the screen and select the Widget Panel.
According to Sveum, the local weather news videos feature is currently live on Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10, Echo Show 15, and Fire TV Omni QLED Series devices, and is rolling out to Echo Show 5 devices.
This new feature is a game-changer for those who rely on their local news stations for up-to-date weather information. By partnering with local news channels, Amazon is ensuring that users have easy access to the most recent weather news videos. Whether you live in an area prone to severe weather or just like to stay informed, this feature will make it easier and more convenient to stay updated on the latest forecasts.
In the future, I hope to see this feature expand to more cities and become available on a wider range of devices. It has the potential to revolutionize how we consume weather information, providing a seamless experience that combines the convenience of smart displays with the reliability of local news stations. As Amazon continues to enhance and expand this feature, it will undoubtedly become an essential tool for those seeking accurate and timely weather updates.
