As a farmer, businessman, an emergency responder or an outdoor enthusiast, having accurate weather data is a must. Historically we all relied on broadcast weather information, but today we can find this data ourselves.
Most of us use a weather app, general weather radio or emergency weather radio station. There is even the weather channel wireless weather forecast station to plan our days.
But, did you know that the forecasts from these sources are rarely accurate? The reason is that these forecasts are usually generated from professional weather stations that are located in a general region. Depending on where you live, you may be many miles from where the professional weather stations are reporting outside conditions.
Just like your best app for indoor temperature, some online resources can provide accurate weather data for your area. These resources include the weather channel, NOAA weather radio, and an online resource known as Weather Underground.
Aside from obtaining your local weather data from online sources, owning a high-quality weather station can also help you stay on top of Mother Nature. With a personal weather station, you can obtain up to date weather conditions right outside your door.
How and Where to Get Weather Updates
If you are searching for more accurate local weather data, several online resources can help, such as accuweather.com. A weather station is also an excellent tool for obtaining accurate weather conditions in your backyard. When shopping for a weather station, there are several factors to consider. Before purchasing a weather station, you should also read many online reviews.
- There are a few online resources to obtain accurate local weather data for your area.
- The NOAA National Weather Service can not only be your weather station radio channel, but the source can also serve as your trusted severe weather radio station, am a radio station for the weather, NOAA weather alert radio channels, and weather emergency radio station.
- Do you want a personal meteorologist that is always right? If so, you should consider a home weather station.
- The primary factors that you should consider when purchasing a station are usage, sensors, accuracy, wireless capabilities, and price.
- The many wind speed meter reviews should help you with your search for the most effective weather station.
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards-National Weather Service
The weather plays an essential role in our lives every day. The popularity of smartphones and weather apps has made checking outside conditions extremely easy. The onlye problem with these technological advancements is that they are not always right!
Most people are unaware that the weather data displayed in a weather app is often from stations miles away from your specific area. That’s why there is a substantial discrepancy in these reports and the actual conditions in your exact location.
To obtain more accurate local weather data, you need resources that you can wholeheartedly depend upon. Here are some resources that may be helpful.
An excellent online resource for more accurate local weather data is the NOAA National Weather Service. The website offers nationwide station listings using broadcast frequencies. This best radio station for weather can serve as your severe weather radio station. NOAA weather band stations, trusted NOAA weather AM radio stations and emergency weather radio channels are included.
Most importantly, the website can be your best radio station for comprehensive weather and emergency information.
When you visit the website, you’ll find that the NOAA weather band stations and the NOAA weather alert radio channels are available in every state. By partnering with federal, state and local emergency managers, the network can broadcast a warning and post-event information for a variety of hazards.
Weather Underground For Weather Data
One of the best places to obtain weather data for your exact location is an online resource known as Weather Underground. As a personal weather station network, the mission of this online weather station is to offer the highest quality weather information to every person on this planet.
The website is essentially a global community of people who connect data from weather stations. This weather data is then presented as beautiful and customizable charts and graphics. Since more data equates to better forecasts, everyone is welcome to this network.
For your convenience, the website offers the weather station app known as WunderStation. The app provides you the opportunity to view, analyze, share and compare data with another best online weather station in your area.
Instead of depending on weather forecasts that maybe your neighbor’s or the airport, trust Weather Underground with determining the exact weather condition in your local area.
How To Buy A Weather Station For Your Home
There are many sources for weather forecasts available today, some of which include your weather station iPhone app, weather radio or your favorite weather channel. However, we believe nothing compares to a home weather station.
Just think, contrary to alternatives that rely on reports from stations far away, professional weather stations for a home provide more accurate results, specific to your area.
Read our updated post on The Best Weather Stations To Buy In 2021
What Is A Weather Station?
But what is a weather station? A professional weather station is a digital device that has a wide variety of weather instruments. They allow for optimal measuring and reporting of weather data.
Once the data is collected, the product uses a series of algorithms to generate accurate weather forecasts for your specific location.
How Does A Weather Station Work?
At this point, you are probably wondering how a professional weather station works to create weather data. To understand this, you must know the makeup of these devices.
The two main components of this product are the wireless sensor and the weather station display.
Davis Instruments 6250 Vantage Vue
The primary responsibility of the wireless sensor is to capture weather data and transmit this information to the weather station display. A basic sensor unit is designed to monitor temperature and humidity, however, a more advanced sensor may also measure wind speed, direction and rainfall.
The Display Is For Weather Data
Most weather station displays consist of a wireless, monochrome digital screen with a backlight for night-time viewing. The primary job of the display is to receive and compute the data from the wireless sensor. You can customize the display for current and forecasted outdoor weather conditions.
To obtain a complete view of the outdoor conditions, many digital weather stations for home, show the weather data in big, bold numbers.
Advanced, PC-based weather stations displays are equipped with a USB port to connect to your computer. The purpose of this convenient capability on a weather station with PC interface is to allow storage and analysis of historical records. As well as remote viewing of your outdoor weather conditions on a variety of devices including your smartphone, computer and tablet.
The convenient USB port also offers you the opportunity to upload your sensor data to reputable websites like Weather Underground. This will determine how your PC based weather station compares to others operating in your specific area.
The PC connect feature also offers other capabilities. Configure the home weather station software to send emails and texts alerts for hazardous outdoor conditions. In fact, you may be able to predict a flooded basement due to severe weather in your area.
Where To Mount A Weather Station For Good Weather Data?
To get weather data from your home, the weather station could be mounted on the roof, or in the area where you plan on collecting data. Maybe the backyard or further afield if you are on a greter land parcel. Just keep in mind that the device may produce inaccurate results if you install it in the wrong place.
A weather station will not supply reliable date if placed in an alley or under a tree or overhang. For best results, consider installing a weather station on the side of your house or the roof of your garage.
Did you know that there are also vehicle mounted weather stations available? Many of these display wind speed and direction updates as often as every 3 seconds. They will also give you real-time temperature, barometric readings and rainfall. As you are shopping for a weather device, make sure to consider a vehicle weather station, especially if you like chasing storms.
Set Up Your Weather Station For Accurate Weather Data
Once you figure out exactly where to mount this device, you need to know how to properly set up a weather station. The process of deciding how and where to place your weather station is known as “sitting.” The most essential factor in ensuring accurate data from your weather station is sitting.
When setting up a weather station, you should consider the placement of the sensors. For example, the humidity sensor should be at least 50 feet away from water and plants. The anemometer should be placed 33 feet above the ground. Also, the rain gauge should have a 5 feet clearance to the nearest obstruction.
While you are setting up a weather station, always remember that ease of access is a significant factor. You may need to change the batteries at some time, and check and clean the sensors regularly.
Many weather stations provide a connection via USB to a PC. If you like to record the weather data in your PC or upload it to WunderGround, you should keep your PC on all day.
If your weather station is WiFi enabled, it can upload data to the internet without connecting to your PC.
Read an in-depth article on setting up a weather station here.
You Need A Weather Station For Accurate Weather Data
If the weather app on your smartphone has shown “sunny skies” while heavy rain is falling right outside your door, then you need a weather station! Whether you are a future meteorologist, gardener, farmer or hobbyist, owning digital weather stations can be extremely useful.
Due to the variety of sensors on these products, a primary weather station can measure pressure, humidity, temperature, wind speed and direction. More advanced models are designed to also capture soil conditions and rainfall. While a thermometer sensor can measure temperature, a barometer sensor will capture atmospheric pressure. This can be very helpful if you suffer from barometric pressure headaches.
When searching for an advanced model, consider purchasing an outdoor weather station with a rain gauge, or a home weather station with a barometer. Other handy features include a snow at home weather tool or an atomic clock weather stations for home.
With plenty of other cool features, these geeky gadgets can tell you everything that you need to know about the weather in your area.
What Do Professional Home Weather Stations Offer?
One of the best advantages of professional weather stations for home is that they offer real-time weather reports. Getting accurate weather data will assist you with successfully planning almost any outdoor activity. In other words, installing a weather station will provide you with weather reports that are specific to your area. This could be very helpful for children’s sport, if you are hosting a pool party and also farmers or avid gardeners.
Along with obtaining accurate weather reports, installing one of these great products connects you with others who share data from their own weather stations.
On another note, a weather station can also be a fantastic tool to show your children how the weather works.
Qualities Of A Great Weather Station
If you are obsessed with weather forecasts in your area, then a home weather station home should be high on your shopping list. However, as with most products, not all these devices are created equal. There are many different types of weather stations with various features and price points.
In this weather station buying guide, we’ll talk about the qualities of a useful home weather device, and the essential things to know before purchasing one.
There are many different options on the market today, so for accurate weather data, you want the best home weather station.
Which Weather Station Gives Great Weather Data?
Are you asking yourself the question, “which weather station should I buy?” The good news is our weather station buying guide should answer this question for you.
Here are the different factors and features to consider when buying the best home weather station for weather data.
Usage
When shopping forweather device, the biggest question you need to ask yourself is, “Why do I need a professional weather station?” Do you need a primary weather station to obtain the exact conditions in your backyard? Are you a farmer or gardener who would like to monitor weather conditions to ensure that your crops are growing in an optimal environment? Are you a weather hobbyist who would like to closely monitor your local weather data and compare your observations to other weather enthusiasts nearby? The answer to these questions will determine the type of product that you need.
Sensors and Features
The basic features of any weather station should contain a weather thermometer, as well as a wind speed and direction sensor. Aside from these important features, the best weather station should be equipped with sensors that measure dew point and humidity.
If you enjoy being outdoors a lot, you need a station that can sense outdoor lightning and measure solar radiation and UV index. On the other hand, if you are a farmer or gardener, stations that contain integrated soil moisture and weather thermometer would be extremely beneficial.
Are you a pool owner? If so, you may need a station with a water temperature sensor to monitor the best time for swimming.
Accuracy
Because a weather station is virtually worthless if it incorrectly measures weather conditions, another important feature is accuracy. Just remember that when it comes to weather stations, you will get what you pay for.
As a general rule of thumb, the cheaper stations are built for affordability at the expense of accuracy. Most professional-grade weather stations give incredibly accurate weather data.
While farmers and emergency responders may need accurate and frequent weather data points, others are okay with less precise data. It may be okay if the updates are a little slower.
When you have correctly identified your reasons for getting the best weather station for home use, you’ll be able to determine how important accuracy is to you.
Wireless
Back in the day, weather stations came in two forms: wired and wireless. As technology has progressed, wired weather stations have become a thing of the past. These days, almost every weather station on the market is wireless, which means they operate through WiFi or Bluetooth.
There is no doubt that a WiFi weather station is much better than its predecessors. The primary reason is that a WiFi weather station offers greater flexibility in the placement of the sensors. The result of the flexible senor placement is more accurate readings on a pro wireless weather station.
One of the most useful wireless weather devices is a pro wireless weather station with PC interface. Such wireless weather stations not only contain a bunch of cool features, but they also offer you the option to connect to them via an app or website.
Interface
Such wireless weather stations not only contain a bunch of cool features, but they also offer you the option to connect to them via an app or website.
Because of this great feature, wireless weather stations are strongly recommended.
Included Software
More weather devices these days come with online weather station software. While you can rely on Weather Underground to display your data, a software package may help you analyze historical data much more straightforward.
Price
As previously mentioned, the saying “You get what you pay for” is true with these home weather devices. So before you purchase a weather station, you need to determine if all of these fantastic features are worth the extra money.
Final Thoughts On Stations For Weather Data
When shopping for the most recommended weather stations, you should consider the factors discussed above. Whether you love all things weather or are obsessed with weather forecasts, purchasing a home weather station should provide fantastic weather data.
Weather Station Reviews
We have recently updated this post and recommend you read our Best Weather Stations To Buy In 2021. This will give you the most up-to-date products that are available on the market today.
Summary
In the past, we relied on a radio station or TV to get accurate weather data and information about outdoor conditions. But today, there is an increasing trend to use weather stations for accurate, current conditions and forecasts.
While these products aren’t a new idea, recent weather station models come with more cool features to help measure outdoor conditions accurately.
- Some of the best places to find online information about local weather data is the NOAA and Weather Underground.
- As the best radio station for the weather, you can depend on the NOAA National Weather Service as your emergency radio station.
- As compared to a weather radio station, a home weather station is a better option for obtaining accurate local weather data.
- There are many different types of weather stations available today.
- Before purchasing a weather station, you should understand why you need one.
- Depending on the usage, accuracy is paramount when shopping for a weather station.
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