There are the basics. Know which way is north. The weather generally is coming from the west. Look in that direction. Approaching storms can be seen from a long long way. Turn the satelite radio off & listen to whatever can be picked up over the air. It does not take long to figure out where the broadcast is coming from. Everyone should be carrying at least a Walmart atlas. If there are any warnings for any countys it is easy enough to find them & plot your location, direction of travel & if necessary any deviation from route to avoid severe weather.
All of this can be done without technology that did not exist 15 years ago. It is possible to live without a smartphone attached to oneself.
