Update: read our newest 2020 weather station buying guide!
Weather is one of the most common conversations openers in the world. We can talk about it to almost everyone we meet, and even TV channels and websites are committed to it. Although watching the weather channel is informative, having your very own weather station at home is the best way to have real-time updates on the weather. So, let’s discuss what’s the best weather station.
The weather ultimately affects our daily lives, and consumers today are willing to spend just to be prepared for the rain, sun, snow, and wind’s ups and downs. Whether you’re a budget-conscious, a camper, a fisherman, a gardener, or a farmer- there’s a weather station that will be ideal for you.
If you want to understand the choices and the essential factors in buying your weather station, we’ve tested and reviewed many weather stations, and below are our top choices.
Top Pick Overall Best Weather Station: AcuRite 01024 Pro
Key Features:
✔ Weather-Resistant Design – a high-quality design that can stand from rugged outdoor environments; sun, rain, or dust exposure
✔ HD Color Display – high definition TFT display that records real-time weather updates and organized information layout improving user experience
✔ 5-in-1 Weather Tracker – tracks five extreme weather conditions including the indoor and outdoor temperature, indoor and outdoor humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall.
✔ Storm Detector – it has a lightning detection feature that detects storms up to 25 miles away and also records the number of lightning strikes
✔ Wireless Connectivity – it has a reliable 100 meters wireless connectivity range
✔ Customized Alerts – you can set a customized alert for each weather condition when it detects lightning, the sensor will start flashing and beeping
✔ Internal Sensor Fan – sensor comes in with an internal fan to maintain accurate readings throughout the day
Specifications:
Sensors: Rain, Wind speed, Wind direction, Temperature, Humidity, and Barometric pressure
Update Interval: 16 seconds real-time updates on the console, 60-second updates on the Internet
Connectivity and Power: Wireless, Solar powered with battery backup, AC powered with battery backup
The AcuRite 01024 Pro is an affordable weather station for your home or office. The lightning detector is a great feature that helps detect incoming storms. It has a great deal of accuracy at an affordable price, and it’s easy to install.
Best Weather Station For Geeks: Ambient Weather WS-2902
Key Features:
✔ 7 Sensors in one unit – Rain Gauge, Wind Vane, Wind Cups, Thermo-Hygrometer, UV / Solar Radiation, Bubble Level, and Solar Collector
✔ Easy to read LCD Display – the Ambient Weather WS-2902 has a large, colored display screen which enhances readability.
✔ 10-in-1– it measures indoor temperature, outdoor temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, UV, barometric pressure, and solar radiation
✔ Fast and Better Connectivity – can connect wirelessly through Wi-Fi and can access Weather Underground, and it’s compatible with Alexa and Google assistant (say “Ok Google, Ambient Weather”). Plus it can be connected to IFTTT which enables you to control external devices like sprinklers and more.
Specifications:
Sensors: Temperature, Humidity, Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Rain, and Lightning Detector
Update Interval: Updates every 18 to 36 seconds
Connectivity and Power: Wireless, Solar panel for the interior fan, AC powered
The Ambient Weather WS-2902 is perfect for geeks who do not merely want to know the local weather updates but want to gather more specific and complex data to understand what is happening in the atmosphere. Its price range is affordable, considering that it’s a 10-in-1 machine.
Best In Design: Netatmo Weather Station
Key Features:
✔ Very Easy Installation – connect it to your computer via USB, configure the location and wireless settings, and install batteries. Place one sensor outside and one inside, that’s it. They will send you updates through your iOS, Android, and Windows phone via Wifi or through a web-based app.
✔ Co2 Sensor and Noise level sensor – it measures noise level and indoor pollution levels of your home. It then sends you alerts so you can air out your home for a healthier environment
✔It can communicate with other Smart Devices – for example, ‘turn the fan off when the temperature gets cool’ or ‘switch off the sprinkler when it rains
✔ Compatible with Amazon Alexa
✔ Netatmo Weathermap – share your data or access real-time weather data from the Netatmo community around the world
Specifications:
Sensors: Temperature, Humidity, Barometric Pressure, indoor CO2 concentration, and Sound Meter
Update Interval: Updates every 5 minutes
Connectivity and Power: Wireless, Indoor module powered by USB wall adapter, Outdoor module is battery powered
Most classic weather stations are outdated and unattractive. The Netatmo Weather Station is not only modern and classy; it has the most advanced features you can have in a weather station. However, the lack of wind data and UV sensors makes it a less contender compared to the do-it-all weather stations in the market.
Best Weather Station For Newbies: AcuRite 01512 Wireless Weather Station
Key Features:
✔ 5-in-1 – consists of five sensors; thermometer, anemometer, wind vane, hygrometer, and rain gauge
✔ Maximum transmission range – it can communicate wirelessly up to 330 ft.
✔ Self-emptying Rain Gauge – provides accurate and reliable rain measurements
✔ Auto brightness dimming technology – the AcuRite 01512 has a large illuminated color display with an auto-dim or manual brightness adjustment
✔ Self-calibrating Console – pulls data from the outdoor sensor right in your backyard and updates weather data of the exact location
Specifications:
Sensors: Rain, Wind speed & wind direction, Temperature, Humidity, Barometric pressure
Update Interval: Updates every 18 to 36 seconds
Connectivity and Power: Wireless, Battery powered
AcuRite 01512 is an impressive, high-quality weather sensor at an affordable price range. If you’re a newbie who’s going to use the weather station for common purposes such as knowing the local weather forecast, then this model is perfect for you. It provides accurate and reliable readings.
Best Weather Station For Enthusiasts and Meteorologists: Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station
Key Features:
✔ Upgradable Sensor – the Vantage Pro2 allows you to add additional sensors like UV and solar radiation, soil moisture, leaf wetness, or whatever meets your needs
✔ Supreme Accuracy – it has a radiation shield that houses the sensor from too much heat and radiation, resulting in more accurate measurements
✔ Long-range transmission – the maximum range is 1000 ft. without walls and obstructions and an option to add wireless repeaters to reach up to 2.7 kilometers
✔ Frequency-hopping Spread Spectrum technology – the first wireless home weather station that uses FHSS
✔ High-quality – the station is constructed of over-molded plastic which prevents moisture from penetrating the electronics
✔ Real-time updates – sends weather updates every 2.5 seconds
Specifications:
Sensors: Temperature, Humidity, Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Rainfall (Precipitation), and Barometric Pressure
Update Interval: Updates every 2.5 seconds
Connectivity and Power: Wireless, Solar powered sensor, Console AC powered with backup batteries
The Davis Vantage Pro2 is a worthy investment. You may have to pay a premium, but this weather station is the king when it comes to data accuracy. And it’s expandability is also its selling point. The design of the station it’s outdated, and the additional sensors might be expensive; however, this is one of the most reliable weather machines on the market.
Best Value for Money: Oregon Scientific Wireless Advanced Weather Station
Key Features:
✔ Large Display Icons – weather forecasts are displayed in large graphical icons with an orange backlight that is not too bright
✔ Self-setting Atomic Clock – it has a 12-24 hour clock with a time zone offset feature that sets automatically even during DST
✔ Reads up to three remote sensors – gives you the option to add two more sensors to monitor different parts of your house
✔ Straightforward Measurements – measures indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, moon phase, and an Ice Alert with green LED light
Specifications:
Sensors: Indoor and Outdoor Temperature and Humidity
Update Interval: 2.5-20 seconds
Connectivity: Wireless, Battery-powered
If you’re looking for a primary weather station that will provide accurate readings of the temperature and humidity, the Oregon Scientific BAR208HGA is your perfect choice. Unlike the high-tech weather machines, the Oregon Scientific BAR208HGA doesn’t provide much information. However, it’s very affordable, so you get enough of what you pay.
Best Weather Station For Gardeners And Farmers: Davis Instruments 6250 Vantage Vue
Key Features:
✔ LCD Console – it features an easy-to-read display with a glow-in-the-dark keypad
✔ Transmission range – transmits wirelessly from the outdoor sensor to the console up to 300 ft. / 1000 ft. (unobstructed)
✔ Real-time weather updates – it sends updates every 2.5 seconds which is 10x faster than most weather stations
✔ Rugged durability and extreme Accuracy – like the Vantage Pro2, this weather station provides accurate readings
Specifications:
Sensors: Indoor and outdoor Temperature, Humidity, Barometric pressure, Wind speed, Wind direction, Heat Index, Dewpoint, and Rainfall
Update Interval: Updates every 10 to 12 seconds
Connectivity and Power: Wireless, Solar panel power, Battery powered console
Davis Instruments 6250 Vantage Vue is more affordable than Vantage Pro2 but has lived up to the latter’s accuracy. Plus it also reads dew point and rainfall, which makes it perfect for gardeners. If you’re a weather junkie who doesn’t care about the Internet and Smartphone connectivity, then the Vantage Vue is ideal for you.
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