The Best Personal Weather Stations
Tired of relying on that unreliable weatherman to tell you what's what, climate-wise? Who died and made him king? (Well, to be fair, he did probably study quite hard to become a meteorologist, but that's neither here nor there.) Instead of turning to the TV or radio for the scoop on the weather, you can invest in your own personal weather station to monitor it yourself. Whether you're a farmer, a ship's captain, a homesteader, or a curious everyman or woman looking for a new hobby, our team has found a few of the best weather stations money can buy. Take a peek.
What to Look For
In our research, we found that the best weather stations are accurate, user-friendly, and feature-rich. For example, Ambient Weather’s wifi weather station boasts an intuitive system. You can monitor the weather on any device, including your laptop and smartphone. However, if you’d prefer a simpler setup, we’d recommend BALDR’s weather forecaster. It’s affordable and gives you all the basics, like humidity, temperature, and barometric data. Read on to learn more about our top picks.
Ambient Weather WS-2902 Smart WiFi Weather Station
Pro at home
If you want reliable weather forecasts in an intuitive package, get the Ambient Weather Smart Station. This professional-grade system includes everything you’ll need to get daily updates on outdoor conditions, including an easy-to-read LCD display, a sensor array, and an online data dashboard with personalized results. All of those parts communicate with each other wirelessly or through radio frequencies, making the whole package extremely easy to set up and maintain.
Pros:
- Supports imperial and metric units
- Real-time wind speed updates
- Encrypted wifi communication
Cons:
- Calibration can be tricky
AcuRite Iris Wireless Home Station for Indoor and Outdoor
Rich in features
Whether you’re an amateur weather enthusiast or someone who just wants to keep daily tabs on the wind and rain, the AcuRite Wireless Home Station is a great choice. It’s slightly more affordable than our number one pick but still boasts many of the same features, including an independent sensor array that is easy to set up and a brightly colored LCD console that is easy to read from a distance. Together they measure five different conditions, including rainfall levels, wind speed and direction, outdoor and indoor temperature, barometric pressure, and the future forecast.
Pros:
- Includes mounting hardware
- Very easy to set up and use
- Two-year battery life
Cons:
- No online access hub
Davis Instruments 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station
Gadgets galore
If your job depends on knowing the weather tomorrow or next week, you can’t mess around with a less-than-professional weather station. Luckily, the Davis Instruments Vantage Vue is very accurate and meets the standards of even the most serious weather enthusiasts. The self-contained system updates every two seconds boasts a wireless transmission distance of up to 1,000 feet, and runs on solar with a stored energy backup. It’s also one of the most durable systems out there, thanks to a sensor array that has been tested for corrosion and high wind speeds.
Pros:
- Suitable for schools, marinas, and fire departments
- Glow-in-the-dark keypad on the console
- Compatible with WeatherLink data logger
Cons:
- Mounting pole sold separately
La Crosse Technology C85845 Color Wireless Forecast Station
Keep it simple
As this La Crosse Technology Wireless Station demonstrates, you don’t need an elaborate or expensive forecast system to get reliable, regular weather updates. Consisting of a bright LCD console and a simple weatherproof sensor, it’s as easy to set up as it is to use, offering measurements on everything from humidity to temperature to daily forecasts. Of course, it’s not as comprehensive as some other models on the market. Still, it’s perfect for casual home use or anyone just breaking into personal weather forecasting.
Pros:
- Comfort level color bar
- Self-setting atomic time
- Lightweight design
Cons:
- Connectivity is fussy
BALDR Indoor Outdoor Thermometer with Weather Forecast
Finding a reliable weather forecaster that’s affordable enough for casual users can be tough, but BALDR does a good job of offering consistent results on a budget. The simple console and sensor can forecast the weather over a 24-hour period, gauge the temperature and humidity, and tell the time. It won’t give you a full picture of the outdoor conditions, but it will give you enough to know whether to leave the umbrella at home or take it with you in the morning.
Pros:
- Sleek white design
- Outputs in seven languages
- Very accurate
- Also has alarm
Cons:
- LCD display is fairly basic
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a weather station?
A weather station is an electronic system that can forecast the weather. It can also take other measurements about outdoor and indoor conditions, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, barometric pressure, and many other things. Generally, a weather station consists of a sensor array that gauges these conditions and a console that displays the results. Some weather stations may connect with online databases that allow for a more sophisticated analysis of weather trends and behavior.
Why do I need a weather station?
Being able to tell whether it’s going to rain tomorrow or next week is an important skill in any number of situations. Boat captains and marinas may need to know the wind strength before setting sail in the morning. Park rangers and other outdoor workers may need to know whether it will snow or rain. Even schools may need weather stations for educational purposes. But even if your job doesn’t depend on knowing the weather, you may simply want one in your home to tell you whether to take your umbrella tomorrow or leave it at home.
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