Hello there on a fantastic Friday, friend! They just sold out again. That’s right, I’m talking about Progresso’s Soup Drops. Picture a hard candy that tastes like chicken broth, veggies, egg noodles and a hint of parsley. Stew on it a bit, and really use your noodle. I'll chicken on you later to see if you really carrot all.

🤖 Feeling like everything is AI or a Big Tech algorithm? Nope, it's me, real-human Kim here! I personally select every single thing in this newsletter just for you. Need a hand with something? Drop me a note right here. I’d really love to help you out. — Kim

I was talking to my brother, who got 7 inches of snow in Florida the other day. Wow!

We’re on the edge of a weather forecasting revolution. Google’s AI weather forecasting system, GenCast, can predict as far out as 15 days with up to 97% accuracy. We’re entering the age where severe weather will no longer surprise anyone.

Until these new tools are completed, though, we still have to rely on imperfect data and apps that are, well, kinda right. Weather apps pull information from different data networks, and those networks vary in quality, as reported by tools like ForecastAdvisor. I’ll share the most accurate apps, depending on where you live.

A change in the weather

Search online and you’ll see Global Weather Corporation (GWC) recommended as one of the most accurate weather forecasts. It’s true, but GWC isn’t available to regular folks anymore; their services have been bundled and sold off to automotive and data companies so only they can access them. Womp, womp.

The Weather Channel

Best for: Florida, the South and the Midwest, along with snowstorm-prone states like North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Vermont.

Who’s really surprised Weather⁠.⁠com is still at the top of the game when it comes to accuracy? Several apps pull their info from Weather Channel data, so you’ve got some choices other than The Weather Channel app.

Weather Underground is known for its hyperlocal weather data and unique network of personal weather stations. You can also check out Storm Radar or the Google Weather app, which pulls data from The Weather Channel.

Weather in MSN

Best for: East Coast states and, for you snowbirds, Hawaii.

Microsoft? A weather guru? MSN (Start) has a proprietary weather app named the “most accurate global forecast provider.” Microsoft commissioned the study, though, so take that with a grain of salt.

Their trick is a mix of pulling accurate data and AI to get the best predictions. Use it here or download the MSN app. FYI, for this region, Foreca is a strong contender, too.

Weather.gov

Best for: All locations … but it’s clunky.

Weather.gov, aka the National Weather Service, isn’t pretty, but this ugly duckling is reliable and pulls info from many sources to provide an excellent U.S. weather map. If you don’t need a slick interface, you may prefer its deeper dives into forecast maps and radar results.

Enter your ZIP code and save your profile, and it’ll always show you local data. It’s a good option if you don’t want to download an app.

AccuWeather

Best for: Midwest states.

AccuWeather’s app lets you parse weather data however you please. It’s won awards from the World Meteorological Organization for its user interface. Neat feature: RealFeel temps that factor in wind chill to show you how cold kids and pets will feel. It’s also got a two-hour MinuteCast forecast. The downside: The app is a little ad‑heavy.

Before you yell about me missing your favorite: There are endless options that all do certain things well. Your fave might not even be the most accurate one for your area, just sayin’.

🌳 Reminds me … What’s the difference between weather and climate? You can’t weather a tree, but you can climate!

☀️ Hello, sunshine! Let’s brighten your day with a few little upgrades.

• I don’t like dark hallways and stairwells. These night-lights look nice and cost less than $10 for eight. Click the extra coupon!
• Guys and gals, bags under your eyes make you look older. Swipe on some gentle under-eye cream (44% off).
• Now, use some redness-banishing eye drops (8% off) so you’ll look like you got a great night’s sleep!
• Do you floss every day? Uh-huh, sure. A water flosser (40% off) is easier and keeps your teeth sparkling.
• White taper candles with no smell ($15 for 20) are my go-to for dinnertime.

Just in case you need it: A bestselling ice and snow scraper to toss in the car. Stay safe!

⚠️ Don’t click Google ads: Mac owners searching for Homebrew, an open-source download installer, are getting ads for a fake. The ads display the correct URL, brew⁠.⁠sh, but clicking redirects you to a copycat site. When you install the phony software, you’ve just welcomed info-stealing malware. Argh. Make sure you’re using antivirus software.*

🚗 270,000 Ford models recalled: Certain 2021-2023 Bronco Sport SUVs and 2022-2023 Maverick trucks could stop suddenly, making them a scary crash risk. It’s an issue with their 12-volt batteries degrading. Own one? Look for a letter in the mail around Feb. 3 with info on dealer inspections and replacements.

Big promises, no results: There are some big opinions on Meta ditching its fact-checking program, but here’s the joke: It didn’t work in the first place. An analysis found only 14% of posts pushing foreign enemy state narratives were flagged as false on Meta. The new plan of action? Community notes … because that’s totally working out for X.

🥵 It’s all over social media: Heating pads, space heaters and electric fireplaces are leaving people with toasted skin syndrome caused by too much heat exposure. It looks like a lacey spotted rash and could take months or years to go away, if ever. Have it? See your doctor ASAP.

Fountain of youth: Retro Biosciences is developing a set of proteins that could turn back the clock on human skin cells. Their goal? To add 10 years to your life. Their work is powered by ChatGPT GPT‑4b micro, an AI model created by OpenAI. They didn’t sign a big deal, but OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has already invested $180 million of his own money into Retro Biosciences.

✈️ Aisle be waiting at the airport: You can now pay for a JetBlue flight using Venmo. They’re the first airline to offer it, and I bet others will follow. Why the change? JetBlue’s in the red, reporting hundreds of millions in losses. Reminder, if you’re booking secret travel, all your purchases on Venmo are public unless you take these steps.

❤️ A father’s love: An IT director in Toronto called corporate life quits after doctors told him his son had an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease with no cure. They said his boy would be paralyzed from the waist down by age 10 and quadriplegic by 20. Dad liquidated his savings and teamed up with researchers working on a promising gene therapy. Years later, his son received the treatment and can now stand up. So wonderful.

Are you still relying on QuickBooks? There’s a smarter, more powerful solution waiting for you. Here’s why NetSuite by Oracle is the right choice for your business:

• All-in-one solution: Manage financials, HR, inventory and more from one platform.
• Boost efficiency: Eliminate tedious paperwork and get real-time insights to grow your business.
• Proven success: Trusted by over 40,000 companies.

Whether your business earns hundreds of thousands or hundreds of millions, who wouldn’t want less manual work, better decision-making and higher profits? Now’s the time to make the switch.

Pay for YouTube Premium? Hit this page for beta features you get to try out first. A new one lets you jump ahead to what the algorithm thinks is the best part of a video. Don’t you dare try it on my videos!

🤺 Who are their competitors? You’re researching a new service for your business and don’t know who to compare it to. Or maybe you’re looking for new sales prospects. Ask ChatGPT or your favorite AI bot! It’ll spit out a list. Take it with a grain of salt; some results could be outdated.

Minimize your stress: Pressing Windows key + M on a PC or Cmd + Option + H + M on a Mac minimizes all your windows so you don’t have to do it one by one. To minimize all but the one you’re using, use Windows key + Home on a PC or Cmd + Option + H on a Mac.

Dear Kim: Thomas wrote in to ask me for the “best VPN that doesn't slow down my Wi‑Fi connection.” Hey, that’s ExpressVPN! Most of the time, I forget it's turned on, which is high praise, really! Some VPNs slow you down to a crawl. Use my link for an extra four months free.*

📵 Phones and showers don’t mix: It’s a recipe for black mold. All that steam is a breeding ground for spores inside your case. Plus, it messes with your phone’s internal components — even waterproof ones. If you need your shower karaoke time, use a Bluetooth speaker. I found one that’s 20% off ($40).

You can count on me: The next time you need to do a simple calculation, type it directly into your browser's address bar and hit Enter. You can do the same with the search bar in Windows or Mac’s Spotlight Search.

Happy 75th birthday to the microwave! I stop my microwave at 0:01 to feel like a bomb disposal expert.

🍜 Just in case: Progresso is restocking (pun intended) its soup drops next Thursday at 9 a.m. ET. Peas out! ✌️ If you can’t grab those, here’s a backup plan: A box of OldFartamins. Perfect Valentine’s Day gift!

Let me leave you with a to-do that took a massive weight off my shoulders when I did it: Set up term life insurance. Fabric makes it fast and easy* to do online. Hope it helps at least one person!

👏 Do me a solid and tell a friend about this newsletter. If you do that and everyone else does, too, then whoa, baby, I’d be well over my goal of 1 million subscribers! Thanks in advance. See you back here tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA. — Kim