Winterize: Get the best of Mother Nature with these gadgets
Those colorful leaves swirling around your driveway can only mean one thing: Fall is in full swing, and before you know it you'll be buried under feet of snow or getting soaked by rain. If you don't feel like battling the elements with a rusty old umbrella or pair of busted boots, these gadgets will make your life easier and keep you happy regardless of what Mother Nature throws at you.
• Watch the weather with the weather watch
The Apple Watch may still be months away, but when it comes to weather there's nothing more tuned-in than this Weather Alert Wristwatch from Hammacher Schlemmer. Inside this digital timepiece is a slew of integrated weather instruments, including a barometer, altimeter and thermometer, all of which combine to provide alerts about potentially dangerous incoming weather conditions. It's a must-have for all you amateur meteorologists, as well as hikers, bikers, skiers and commuters. For $199, it's an investment that could pay off when you least expect it.
• Life-saving power
When a big storm hits and the power blinks out, this new Upp fuel cell charger can keep your most precious gadgets running for a long, long time. How long? How does an entire week sound? It's the King Kamehameha of portable power units, and it can seriously save your butt if you find yourself in the path of an unpredictable storm that could make your power outlets completely useless. The hydrogen-powered fuel cell never needs to be plugged in, and replacement cartridges are a relatively inexpensive $5 to $10. The Upp charger will arrive this winter, just in time to rescue you, for around $200.
• Get the kids involved
Here's something for all of you budding meteorologists out there; It's a kid-friendly digital weather forecast station that shows indoor and outdoor temperatures, and even outfits appropriate for the weather. You can change the icon for a girl or a boy, and helps your child take their weather preparation into their own hands by letting them gear up without you having to nag about hats and boots. Well, you still might have to remind them, but at least now you'll have some help! You can pick one up for the super-affordable price of $24.95.
• A light in the dark
For the jack-of-all trades, weather-any-storm tech geek, this ultra-capable Tetra flashlight does so much more than simply light up your room. For starters, it's also a lantern that can last for up to 120 hours, a USB charger that can provide power to your gadgets, and it's even water resistant just in case you get caught in a torrential downpour. It might just look like a Twinkie-sized tube, but it's chock-full of so many chameleon-like talents that it's definitely worth the $49.99 price tag.
• iCloud? YouCloud
Oh, you live in a place that's sunny and calm all year round? Allow me to help by starting a thunderstorm in your living room with this made-to-order electronic cloud by designer Richard Clarkson. OK, OK, so it won't actually blow your hair back or soak your furniture, but it will flash with bolts of brilliant lightning and even play back your music using a built-in Bluetooth speaker system. It might look pretty intimidating, but it's not all that frightening … unless you count the $3,360 asking price. Now that is shocking.
• Low-tech protection
OK, so this might be the least high-tech product on the list, but it's still one of the most practical. Keep this portable Hood To Go tucked in your purse, coat pocket or backpack and whip it out whenever it starts to drizzle. Your hair will stay dry even if you forgot your umbrella, and the fabric is a water-resistant microfiber so no worries about tucking a wet hood back in your bag. At just $25, it's the perfect solution to a surprise rain shower and it won't break the bank. Oh, and if you happen to be taking your dog for a walk when it starts showering, you flip up your hood and keep your four-legged friend dry with this funky pet umbrella, too!
What tech helps you weather any storm? Be sure to let us know in the comments section – and take a look at the video that goes with this column to see some of these gadgets in action (almost) first hand.
Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY's digital video show TECH NOW. E-mail her at techcomments@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @JenniferJolly.