# mPing

> Citizen science app for reporting precipitation types to aid severe weather research. (iPhone/iPad app by University of Oklahoma (Information Technology).)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mping/id584383400 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [University of Oklahoma (Information Technology)](https://appshunter.io/developer/326922841)
- Category: Education, Weather
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.00/5 from 154 App Store ratings · 87 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 9 MB
- Languages: American English, Dutch, Estonian, French (France), Greek, Hungarian, Polish, European Portuguese, Serbian, Chinese (Simplified, China) and 2 more
- Released: 2012-12-13
- Data updated: 2026-07-05
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mping/id584383400/reviews.md

## What is mPing?

The NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory and The University of Oklahoma's Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies needs your help with severe weather research!

The Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground project (mPING) needs you, the Citizen Scientist, to watch and report on precipitation.

mPING is looking for volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to make observations - teachers, classes, families, everyone, and anyone! This app is your portal for providing observations to researchers at NSSL. Your reports will help them develop and refine algorithms that use the newly upgraded dual-polarization NEXRAD radars to detect and report on the type of precipitation that you see falling. To do a good job, we need tens of thousands of observations from all over the US. We can succeed only with your help.

mPING volunteer observers can spend as much time as they want, from a little to a lot, making observations. The basic idea is simple: NSSL will collect radar data from NEXRAD radars in your area along with sounding data from our models during storm events, and use your data to develop and validate new and better algorithms. We have two focus areas: winter precipitation types, such as rain, freezing rain, drizzle, freezing drizzle, snow, graupel, ice pellets, mixed rain and snow, mixed ice pellets and snow and even observations of “none” when the precipitation has stopped, even if only briefly.

Why? Because the radars cannot see close to the ground at far distances and because automated surface sensors are only at airports. But the people affected by winter weather are everywhere so we need you to tell us what is happening where you are.

But we need more than winter weather details: when there are thunderstorms, we need to know if hail falls and, if it does, how big it is. Measuring with a ruler is best but, whatever you do, stay safe.

All you need to do is use this app to select the precipitation type. Tell us what is hitting the ground. NSSL scientists will compare your report with what the radar has detected and what our models think the atmosphere is doing, and use it to develop new technologies and techniques to determine what kind of precipitation such as snow, ice, rain or hail and its size is falling where.

## Key features

- Report precipitation types
- Contribute to weather research
- Track winter precipitation
- Report hail size
- Provide ground-truth data
- View radar data comparison

## What do users think of mPing?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful for citizen science
- 👍 Helpful for NWS
- 👍 Fun to participate
- 🚀 Quick and easy reporting
- 👍 Great research tool

**Cons**

- 🐛 App no longer works
- 🐛 Reports fail constantly
- 🐛 App freezes
- 🐛 Lagging when choosing report type
- 🐛 Useless for consumers
- 🐛 Overdue for update
- 🐛 Map is too dark
- 🐛 Broken
- 🐛 Not working
- 🐛 App is broken
- 🐛 Buffering
- 🐛 Worthless
- 🐛 Ambiguous
- 🐛 New format difficult to read
- 🐛 Zoom buttons show black screen
- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 No legend for map symbols
- 🐛 Inconsistent reporting options

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App not working after iPhone update
- App no longer works (iOS 26.2)
- App doesn't work well with new iPhones
- Reports fail constantly
- Big lagging when choosing type of report
- Freezing completely when submitting report
- Unable to view submitted reports
- Issue with "Report Types", no dropdown menu
- App has not been upgraded with recent iOS updates
- All report submissions “fail to report”
- Freezes and inability to select reports
- “Report Submission Failed - Sorry, unable to submit your report!” message
- Touching the Select Report Type button freezes the app
- Unable to choose report type
- Nothing happens when you try to report
- App freezes after clicking “select report type”
- MPING is broke
- App no longer working for months
- Stopped working
- Stopped submitting reports
- Failing to send
- No longer allows submission of weather events
- Won't let me send any reports
- App won't allow submissions
- Error when submitting reports
- Failed to submit report message
- Haven’t been able to submit report in awhile
- Error message, app won't accept submission
- Vulnerabilities preventing report submission
- Stopped letting me submit
- Bogus submissions disabled the app
- Nothing was there when trying to select report type
- Report can not be sent
- Location function won't stay hooked up
- Need to keep reinstalling to work
- Zoom buttons show nothing but black screen
- Pinch zoom map of reports slows and crashes occur
- Latest version missing option for plain snow
- New format isn't good, prefer black background
- No option for snow, only snow/graupel
- Older version ran fine, newer version unable to submit reports
- Lettering and logos too large in newer version
- No longer works on iOS 8.4.1
- App doesn't work until upgraded to iOS 9.2.1

**Most requested features**

- Option to report 'snow' alone
- Add funnel and wall cloud reports
- Add wind report system (tornadic and storm)
- Add thunder/lightning reporting
- Add earthquake reporting
- Add option to change location manually
- Add snow quantity reporting
- Add frost reporting
- Add thunder reporting (not lightning)
- Add high winds and speed reporting
- Add smoke in reduced visibility report
- Add state highway numbers to 'view reports'
- Support for photos and video clips
- Real-time reporting database
- Local news feeds
- Legend for map icons
- Measurement of raindrop splash size
- More detailed precipitation classification

## Recent user reviews (10 of 87)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mping/id584383400/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Please update

*2026-05-19, version 2.2.2*

This was a good app but it was updated January 2026 and the version here is outdated.

### 5/5 — Very useful for upstream weather

*2026-03-15, version 2.2.2*

For some reason, I don’t have the option in the app to choose non-tstrm wind reports. I see others have the capability and I checked for app update.

### 4/5 — Good for weather lovers

*2026-03-13, version 2.2.2*

Very easy to use 
I wish I could report ‘snow’ alone. As it is the options all include something additional ie frozen rain, graupel & ice pellets 🤷‍♀️ asking for snow alone

### 5/5 — IPHONE update

*2026-03-08, version 2.2.2*

App not working after last night’s iPhone update. Cannot enter reports.

### 1/5 — No longer works

*2026-01-25, version 2.2.2*

The app no longer works (iOS 26.2)

### 1/5 — Useless to consumers

*2026-01-25, version 2.2.2*

The app is more or less useless for those who download it. The app only provides a map and twinkling lights to show reports have been submitted in specific geographical areas. However, there is no legend for the map symbols or any explanations of what you’re seeing. It makes sense, though, once you figure out the enduser is not the App Store customer. It’s the scientists who are crowdsourcing this data.

### 2/5 — Needs a serious update

*2026-01-25, version 2.2.2*

This app doesnt work well with the new iphones and is overdue for an update

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2026-01-25, version 2.2.2*

Reports fail constantly.

### 3/5 — Not working

*2026-01-24, version 2.2.2*

Big lagging when choosing type of report.  Freezing completely when submitting report.

### 5/5 — Great for helping out NWS

*2025-12-29, version 2.2.2*

Love it.

## Frequently asked questions about mPing

### What does the mPing app do?

The mPing app allows users to act as citizen scientists by reporting the type of precipitation they observe falling on the ground. This data is collected by researchers to help develop and refine algorithms for detecting and reporting on various precipitation types using advanced radar technology.

### What kind of weather can I report with mPing?

You can report on a variety of precipitation types, including rain, freezing rain, drizzle, freezing drizzle, snow, graupel, and ice pellets. The app also allows reporting on mixed precipitation and when precipitation has stopped. For thunderstorms, you can report if hail is falling and its approximate size.

### How does my reporting help researchers?

Your observations provide crucial ground-truth data that researchers compare with radar data and atmospheric models. This helps them validate and improve the accuracy of weather detection technologies, especially for precipitation types that are difficult to detect close to the ground at a distance.

### Is there a cost to use the mPing app?

No, the mPing app is completely free to use. It is a research project that relies on volunteers to collect valuable data for severe weather studies.

### Who can use the mPing app?

The mPing app is designed for volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, including teachers, students, families, and anyone interested in contributing to weather research. No special meteorological knowledge is required, just the willingness to observe and report precipitation.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.2.2 — 2020-09-17

- Enhanced user experience
- Bug fixes

### 2.1.3 — 2020-09-02

- Updated to support newer devices
- Minor bug fixes and enhancements

### 2.0 — 2016-01-21

Improved user interface
Submits to a different data base via HTTPS
Supports dynamic language selection with new languages being added constantly
New report display with world wide viewing

### 1.4 — 2014-01-12

Native iPad support
View Reports better integrated within the app
Translations to Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Chinese

### 1.2 — 2013-05-02

The mPING project has been expanded and renamed to Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground!

We are now accepting reports of:
wind damage
tornadoes
flooding
landslides
reduced visibility 

And as always we are still looking for precipitation type reports!

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## Related topics

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-05.*