How It Works
CrewTalk polls the NWS API every 5 minutes using your device’s GPS location to check for active weather alerts in your area. When an alert is detected, a full-screen modal appears that must be acknowledged before you can return to normal operation.
- GPS-based location — Your position is determined on-device only. Your location is never sent to any CrewTalk server.
- 5-minute polling interval — Alerts are checked automatically in the background while CrewTalk is running.
- Automatic resume — When you bring CrewTalk back to the foreground after being backgrounded, it immediately checks for new alerts.
Severity Levels
Weather alerts are categorized by severity, each with a distinct color so you can quickly assess the threat level:
| Severity | Color | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme | Red | Tornado Warning, Extreme Wind Warning |
| Severe | Orange | Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning |
| Moderate | Yellow | Winter Storm Warning, Heat Advisory |
| Minor | Blue | Frost Advisory, Wind Advisory |
Mandatory Acknowledge
When a weather alert arrives, CrewTalk displays a full-screen modal that blocks all other interaction. This is intentional — severe weather can be life-threatening, and the alert demands your attention.
- You must tap the acknowledge button to dismiss the alert.
- The alert cannot be swiped away or auto-dismissed.
- Once acknowledged, the same alert will not appear again (tracked by alert ID).
- If multiple alerts are active, each one must be acknowledged individually.
The mandatory acknowledge ensures every crew member has personally seen and registered the weather threat. On a busy set, it’s easy to miss a verbal warning — this guarantees awareness.
RainViewer Radar
In addition to NWS text alerts, CrewTalk integrates RainViewer radar data so you can visually track precipitation and storm movement in your area. This helps you make informed decisions about when to pause outdoor work and when conditions are clearing.
How to Enable
Open Settings
Tap the gear icon in the channel indicator bar on the PTT screen to open Settings.
Toggle Weather Alerts
Find the Weather Alerts section and toggle it on.
Grant Location Permission
When prompted, allow CrewTalk to access your location. This is required so the app knows which NWS zone to monitor. Your location stays on your device and is never sent to any server.
Weather Alerts is a premium feature available on paid plans. On the free tier, the weather alerts toggle is not available.