It comes up frequently in small talk and has the power to make or break a good day. The weather plays a big part in our lives, so it pays to prepare. Take a look at these helpful weather apps for your iOS, Android or Windows smartphone to stay in the loop and avoid getting caught in the rain.

iOS

Sun
When it's just the basic weather forecast that's required, the new web app Sun is both eye pleasing and easy to use. Similar to the Wthr app but scaled back to give the abridged weather details in several color themes. Pinch to zoom reveals the predicted conditions for the next three days. Free

Weather Live
For those who depend on a heavy dose of detailed information, Weather Live is a faithful tool for any iOS device. Everything you need to know about the day's conditions, from the 7 day forecast to the details such as sunrise/sunset, are present on the small screen. One feature we're a fan of is the 'feels like' temperature based on humidity and wind speed, a great bottom line factor when deciding what to wear. $2

Android

Go Weather
A great app takes advantage of the OS, and Go Weather definitely delivers with a live wallpaper based on the weather and an optional helpful widget. With these tools at the app's disposal, the forecast isn't hidden beyond several swipes of the screen. All aspects from temperature to wind to humidity are covered in a beautiful interface that flows very nicely. Free

1Weather
The Android platform is home to many gorgeous apps and 1Weather is one of them, boasting smooth screens with the right amount of information. The latest version is modeled after the ice cream sandwich interface, sporting a cool blue accent that displays the 7 day forecast, air quality, sunrise/sunset, lunar phase, and precipitation. 1Weather also packs a surprising amount of details into its tiny, stamp-like widget. Free

Windows Phone 7

WeatherLive
Not to be confused with the iOS app on this list, WeatherLive is a powerful app that has numerous themes, Live Tile functions and a professional interface. Multiple tiles can be created for various locations, and background Bing images avoid the issue of a boring background. The actual app itself provides some hefty weather details, which update consistently to keep surprise summer showers from spoiling your day. $1.50

Weather Flow
Weather Flow is an app that keeps things simple without missing a single detail. Rather than swiping to different screens for more options like some apps, all weather information, such as wind, temperature and the 7 day forecast, is present on one screen. Multiple locations can be set and reached by swiping the screen. A double sided Live Tile is also available for the home screen, which means twice the convenience. $2
Also available for Android

(Images: 1. Jason Rodway, all others: as credited above)