Easter Weather: The Tools You Need – From Radar to Widget

There's something special about spring, isn't there? One day it's glorious sunshine and birds singing, the next it's drizzly rain and winds that cut right through you. Right now, the weather is the hot topic in every conversation – around the dinner table, on the train, and in the office. And with Easter just around the corner, plenty of us are trying to figure out whether to plan that picnic or just chuck on the winter jacket again.

For those of us who like to know what's happening in real-time, there's no shortage of tools these days. I'm a bit partial to the Bureau of Meteorology myself – their forecasts have saved many a barbecue from being a washout. But I always back it up with a good weather radar. WillyWeather is a favourite on my phone, letting you see exactly where that rain band is right now. Perfect for when you're wondering if you'll make it home before the downpour.

Here are my top three tips for staying one step ahead of the weather:

• Bureau of Meteorology app: Best for long-range forecasts and planning your long weekend.
• WillyWeather: Ideal for seeing exactly where the rain is, down to the street.
• Weather & clock widget: The quickest snapshot right on your home screen.

Another clever trick is a weather and clock widget on your home screen. You get the time and the temperature the second you unlock your phone. And because we Aussies are always keen to know what's happening weather-wise across the country – especially before a trip to the mountains or a quick getaway down south – I'm often checking the forecast for Victoria and New South Wales. Weather systems don't stop at state borders, and a trough forming in the Bight can quickly change things here at home.

This unpredictable spring weather affects us more than you might think. Not just our mood, but our hip pocket too. You really notice it when the power bill arrives – all that back-and-forth with the heater trying to keep the house comfortable as the temperature swings.

And you can definitely see the weather's influence on sport. Just on the weekend, we saw some amazing performances in local weekend races, with athletes pushing through everything from gusty winds to sudden showers. To perform when conditions change from minute to minute, that's true class. It's a good reminder of just how much we're all at the mercy of the elements.

So whether you're planning a ski trip to the Snowies, an Easter lunch in the backyard, or just want to know whether to ride or drive to work: keep an eye on the weather. Grab a widget, bookmark the BOM website and download a radar app. Because the only sure thing right now is that nothing's for sure – except that we'll always be talking about the weather.