





Google has updated Google Maps with a weather layer that provides users with current weather conditions and five day forecasts for locales all around the world.

Maps users who enable the new weather layer — accessible from the upper right corner of Google Maps — will see weather temperatures and conditions, as denoted by cloud and rain icons, when zoomed out. Users can zoom in or click on a weather icon to get a more detailed report for a specific area.

Google Maps' weather reports are sourced from weather.com, and the U.S. Naval Research Lab is powering the feature that shows cloud coverage on the map.

Google sees the addition of weather to its Maps product as a handy tool that should help users better plan trips or check in on the weather conditions where their friends and family are located. The timing of the release comes one week after a partnership between The Weather Channel and Twitter.