Weather Stations
Weather stations monitor and record local atmospheric conditions, providing real-time data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and barometric pressure. These stations are useful for individuals who want accurate, hyper-local weather information for activities like gardening, farming, or outdoor recreation. Modern weather stations often feature wireless connectivity, allowing data to be accessed remotely via apps or integrated into smart home systems. They help users track weather trends, forecast conditions, and make informed decisions based on precise environmental data. Many models also support advanced sensors for measuring rainfall, UV levels, and air quality, making them versatile tools for weather monitoring.
Best Overall
Ambient Weather WS-2902 WiFi
Smart Weather Station
The Ambient Weather WS-2902 WiFi Smart Weather Station is highly regarded for its wide range of features. It measures wind speed, direction, rainfall, temperature, humidity, UV, and solar radiation. It also supports additional sensors for indoor air quality and soil moisture. The station includes WiFi connectivity and is compatible with various apps, including Alexa and Google Assistant. However, it has a complex setup and a busy display.
Most Comprehensive
Ambient Weather WS-2000 WiFi Osprey Solar Powered Wireless Weather Station
The Ambient Weather WS-2000 WiFi Osprey Solar Powered Wireless Weather Station is the most feature-rich, measuring wind speed, direction, rainfall, temperature, humidity, UV, and solar radiation. It can add up to eight additional sensors. The high-definition display is adjustable, and the unit combines measured parameters with calculated data like wind chill and heat index. It has a complex setup but offers comprehensive data collection.
Best Budget
La Crosse Technology C85845-INT
The La Crosse Technology C85845V3 is a simple and budget-friendly option. It provides indoor and outdoor temperatures, humidity, and animated forecast icons on an easy-to-read LCD screen. It includes features like automatic time correction and daylight saving time adjustments but does not measure wind or rainfall.
Best with Rain Gauge
AcuRite Atlas Professional
Home Weather Station
The AcuRite Atlas Professional Home Weather Station includes a rain gauge and monitors eight different measurable conditions to provide a personalized 12-hour forecast. It features programmable alarms and WiFi connectivity. However, connecting the unit to WiFi can be challenging.
Best for Wind Speed
WeatherFlow WEATHERmeter
The WeatherFlow WEATHERmeter is a handheld device that provides detailed wind speed analysis, including average wind speed, wind gusts, apparent wind speed, true wind speed, and wind direction. It integrates with multiple apps and is highly portable. It uses the phone’s compass for wind direction, which some users may find less convenient.
Best Basic
Headwind Consumer Products
840-0052 5-in-1 Weather Station
The EZRead Headwind Consumer Products 840-0052 5-in-1 Weather Station is an analog, educational tool that measures temperature, wind chill, rainfall, total rain, wind speed, and direction. It is easy to install and clean, making it suitable for kids and educational purposes. It is inexpensive.
Best for Google Home
Tempest Weather System by WeatherFlow
The Tempest Weather System by WeatherFlow does not have an indoor display unit but updates every few seconds to a wireless transmission hub that sends information to smartphones and Internet-of-Things devices, including Google Assistant. It measures temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, UV, solar radiation, rain, and lightning. However, it has quirks like misinterpreting vibrations as rain.
