If you're looking to keep closer tabs on impending storms and other climate events, the best home weather stations can help. Weather reports from local news outlets or quick forecasts provided through an app can be a great option for finding out the generalized weather patterns for a broad geographic area. But professional weather stations can be miles away from your home, so you can’t always rely on these reports and forecasts for accuracy.
Instead, you can install a home weather station to provide accurate weather readings for your exact location. Digital weather stations are great for displaying clear, concise information on large, electronic screens, while smart weather stations can connect with smart home systems, like Amazon Alexa, for voice control and wireless data logging.
Take a look below to find a list of the top home weather stations and continue reading for in-depth home weather station reviews to help you decide on the best home weather station for your backyard.
— Best Overall: Davis Instruments 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station
— Best Budget: La Crosse Technology Wireless Forecast Station
— Best Indoor-Outdoor: AcuRite Iris Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Weather Station
— Best Wireless: Sainlogic Wireless Weather Station
— Best with Rain Gauge: Tempest Weather System
How We Chose the Best Home Weather Stations
The goal of the selection process was to answer the question: What is the best weather station for home use? In order to determine which products stood out in the current market, it was necessary to have a firm understanding of weather instruments and the various functions these devices perform to measure everything from temperature to lightning strikes. Learning the benefits and drawbacks of each product included extensive research into over 25 home weather stations to find the best devices with the most innovative features.
The range and connectivity of a home weather station was a key consideration during the selection process because many weather stations that measure wind and rain need to be mounted away from the home. Another important consideration was each device’s power source. A battery-powered or solar-powered device is great for portability, but if the available power levels aren’t monitored, there might be measurement discrepancies. Using a hardwired device ensures continuous power, but the installation process is more complicated.
Functions used to measure temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, lightning strikes, wind speed, wind direction, ambient light, UV intensity, rainfall, and more were also factored into the selection process. While more functions are beneficial for collecting meteorological data, not everyone needs an expensive home weather system. To best represent a range of needs, the final list includes devices with basic functions as well as products that monitor a wide range of weather conditions.
The Best Home Weather Stations: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Davis Instruments 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station
Why It Made the Cut: Receive notifications of dangers like high winds, freezing temperatures, a high rain rate, flood warning, and more with up to 22 simultaneous alarms.
Specs:
— Connectivity: Bluetooth wireless and WiFi connectivity (with optional software)
— Power Source: Solar-powered
— Functions: Wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, moon phase
Pros:
— Set up to 22 simultaneous warning alarms
— 1,000-foot wireless range
— Weatherproof cover and radiation shield
— Store data for up to 25 months
Cons:
— Hub and data logging software sold separately
The Davis Instruments 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station is a long-range, wireless device that’s capable of connecting to a Davis Instruments hub from up to 1,000 feet away. However, this home weather station doesn’t come with a hub, so users will need to purchase the hub separately for wireless access. This weather station offers the option of setting up to 22 simultaneous warning alarms, so users get instant notification of potentially dangerous events such as freezing temperature, high winds, or flooding.
This self-contained home weather station measures wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and rainfall. It even displays the current moon phase on a small LCD display. Store up to 25 months of data on this home weather station or invest in data logging software to upload the recorded information to a computer. The Davis Instruments home weather station relies on a weatherproof cover to protect the device from the elements, while a radiation shield prevents direct sunlight from interfering with temperature readings.
Best Budget: La Crosse Technology Wireless Forecast Station
Why It Made the Cut: Get accurate temperature and humidity readings for both indoors and outdoors with this wireless home weather station.
Specs:
— Connectivity: Bluetooth wireless connection
— Power Source: Battery-powered
— Functions: Temperature and humidity
Pros:
— Inexpensive wireless weather station
— Clear, easy-to-read display screen
— Provides indoor and outdoor readings
— Over 300-foot range
Cons:
— Limited functions
Not every home weather station needs to be able to measure the wind speed, wind direction, or rainfall, because not every user actually needs or wants this information. Instead, people who are just looking for basic weather information can get pertinent data on temperature and humidity with the La Crosse Technology Wireless Forecast Station. The station is designed to provide both indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity readings. While outdoor readings are beneficial for deciding on gardening or other outdoor projects, indoor readings help identify if your home or office temperature and humidity are at a comfortable level.
The clear digital screen uses bold block text to make it easy to read the displayed information. This battery-powered home weather station is an inexpensive option due to its limited functions, but for users who only need data on temperature and humidity, it’s an excellent choice with a wireless range that exceeds 300 feet. Just keep in mind that the home weather station only communicates with the hub and cannot connect through WiFi or to a smart home system.
Best Indoor-Outdoor: AcuRite Iris Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Weather Station
Why It Made the Cut: This AcuRite home weather station is an affordable, effective indoor-outdoor solution for measuring temperature, humidity, and more.
Specs:
— Connectivity: Bluetooth wireless connection
— Power Source: Solar-powered with battery-powered display unit
— Functions: Wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, moon phase
Pros:
— Provides indoor and outdoor readings
— Personalized weather forecast
— Aspirating fan to improve temperature accuracy
— 330 foot wireless range
Cons:
— Cannot connect to computers or mobile devices
Take precautions to deal with outdoor temperature and humidity fluctuations or adjust uncomfortable indoor temperatures and humidity levels with this indoor-outdoor home weather station. The AcuRite Iris Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Weather Station can’t connect to computers or mobile devices through WiFi, but it does have a 330-foot wireless range between the full-color display unit and the weather station.
This indoor-outdoor wireless weather station measures the temperature and humidity in the home and outside. It has an aspirating fan that helps to prevent the temperature sensor from overheating under direct sunlight, which improves the accuracy of the temperature reading. Users can find the current moon phase, the dew point, and a ‘Feels Like’ temperature displayed on the indoor unit along with up-to-date measurements of the heat index, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, and barometric pressure. Take advantage of the self-emptying rainfall collection cup, but make sure to check the collection cup at least once a month to make sure that it isn’t dirty or clogged.
Best Wireless: Sainlogic Wireless Weather Station
Why It Made the Cut: Access weather information through the bold, full color display screen that can be set up within 300 feet of the weather station for wireless connectivity.
Specs:
— Connectivity: Bluetooth wireless connection
— Power Source: Solar-powered with battery-powered display unit
— Functions: Wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, moon phase, dew point
Pros:
— Accurate indoor and outdoor temperature/humidity measurements
— Eleven different features including a calendar, alarms, and weather forecast
— 300-foot wireless range
— Bold, easy-to-read letters on the display unit
Cons:
— Not WiFi compatible
Don’t rely on a wired connection that needs to be kept close to the home; the Sainlogic Wireless Weather Station has a range of up to 300 feet. The weather station can be installed in an open area where it can measure the wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall without being hindered by walls, fences, trees, or other obstructions. It’s also designed to measure the temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and dew point, while providing users with additional information like the current moon phase, a weather forecast, a calendar, and access to alarms for wind gusts, dew point, high and low temperatures, and high and low humidity levels.
The wireless weather station measures both indoor and outdoor temperature/humidity readings. However, it should be noted that this model is not WiFi-compatible, so the data can’t be uploaded onto a computer or online weather database. The station uses an attractive digital display with large, bold text that makes the information easy to read. Additionally, the display takes just a few minutes to begin showing accurate, up-to-date data after it’s been plugged in or powered with batteries.
Best with Rain Gauge: Tempest Weather System
Why It Made the Cut: The haptic rain sensor accurately measures rainfall with vibration, so users don’t need to worry about a clogged rain funnel.
Specs:
— Connectivity: Smart Home compatible
— Power Source: Solar-powered
— Functions: Wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, lightning strikes, ambient light, UV intensity, dew point
Pros:
— Integrated radiation shield
— Measures lightning strikes up to 25 miles away
— Over 1,000-foot wireless range
— Smart home enabled system
Cons:
— High price
— Powerful winds can reduce rainfall measurement accuracy
If your goal is to install a comprehensive home weather system that can keep track of fluctuations in current and future weather conditions, then the Tempest Weather System is an ideal option. With an attractive cylindrical design, this home weather station has a 1,000-foot wireless range and can connect to common smart home systems, like Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Users can take advantage of this smart home integration to develop creative IFTTT protocols for enhanced smart home automation.
The home weather station can be accessed through the free iOS and Android apps, so users have accurate, local information available in the palm of their hand. Measure wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, ambient light, UV intensity, dew point, and lightning strikes up to 25 miles away with this weather station. The haptic rain sensor measures and detects rain onset, intensity, duration, and accumulation with vibration instead of volume, though the manufacturer notes that high winds can reduce the accuracy of rainfall measurements.
Things to Consider Before Buying The Best Home Weather Stations
There are many reasons to invest in a home weather station, including the ability to track dangerous weather patterns to take proper precautions, monitor the temperature and humidity to decide on the best day for painting or staining, or even use the home weather station to measure the amount of rainfall the lawn and garden received. Resist the urge to grab the first affordable home weather station that provides temperature and humidity monitoring, and learn more about these devices in order to make an informed decision about the best home weather station for your needs. Consider the connectivity, range, power source, accuracy, and the wide range of functions.
Connectivity
While you may find some basic home weather stations that are all-in-one units, most devices have a separate outdoor sensor and indoor monitor where you can review the most recent updates and measurements. But it’s necessary to have an active connection to the outdoor sensor in order to display the information on the indoor monitor.
Depending on the home weather station, this connection can be simple and effective with basic wireless communication only between the two devices, or you can invest in a more advanced set-up that can connect to a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Some home weather stations are even compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit, and other smart home systems.
A basic wireless connection is great if you just need to check the weather information without walking out to the home weather station, but if you’re interested in data logging or you want the ability to access the home weather station remotely, it’s best to look for a product that can connect through WiFi to computers and mobile devices.
Investing in a home weather station with smart home compatibility is a good choice if you prefer the convenience of voice commands, but the benefits of integrating the home weather system with the smart home system can extend to IFTTT (IF This Then That) programming. For instance, if the home weather system detects rain, you could set it to trigger the smart sprinkler system to turn off.
Range
The range of a home weather station refers to the longest distance the weather station array or outdoor sensor can successfully transmit to the wireless router, hub, or indoor monitor. Sensors that detect the temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, UV intensity, and more transmit the measurements from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit, but if the outdoor unit is too far away, or the signal is obstructed by physical objects like walls or trees, then the information may be delayed or may not be accessible from the indoor monitor.
The average home weather station has a range of about 100 feet, which is more than enough for most users to install the weather station away from any objects that could interfere with the weather measurements. The weather station should be mounted about 25 feet away from any walls, trees, or other obstructions that could block the wind or rainfall.
You can also find home weather stations with a much longer range. Some products are even capable of providing fast, accurate information at a distance of 1,000 feet. Just keep in mind that obstructions can impact the strength and range of the wireless signal, and the advertised range is typically based on a completely open line of transmission.
Power
The power necessary to operate a home weather station can be provided through a wired electrical connection, a rechargeable battery, or a solar-powered system that allows the weather station to recharge during the day.
— Wired home weather stations have the benefit of a direct connection to a power source, so users don’t need to worry about the battery running out or the solar system failing to convert enough solar power to keep the weather station functioning. However, the drawback is that you’ll need to run a wire from an available outlet to the home weather station, and if the power in the home goes out, the power to the home weather station will also be lost.
— Battery-powered home weather stations are a great choice for portability and they also encourage regular maintenance because you need to recharge the battery when the power is running low. Many weather stations may use a rechargeable battery for storing energy and rely on a solar panel to recharge the battery.
— Solar-powered home weather stations typically require about 2 to 6 hours of sunlight per day to work properly. Given that the purpose of a weather station is to get accurate weather measurements, solar-powered systems are a great way to go because, in most cases, the weather station will need to be in an open area that is exposed to wind, rain, and sun.
Accuracy
When you’re trying to figure out which home weather station would be best for your yard, there are several factors that can impact the accuracy of these devices. Pay attention to the installation location. Small, basic home weather stations are great for measuring the temperature and humidity, but they should be installed in a shady spot to prevent direct sunlight from affecting the accuracy of the readings.
However, if you have a home weather station that also measures wind, rain, and UV intensity, then it needs to be set up in an open location in order to get an unhindered measurement of the wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, ambient light, and UV intensity.
The accuracy of a home weather station may also be affected by the frequency with which the system takes measurements. The higher the frequency, the more accurate the results. Finally, it’s a good idea to look for a home weather station with a protective shield or a fan to help ensure the readings are accurate.
Functions
Functions are one of the most important factors to consider when you’re trying to find a new home weather station. You can find basic products that only measure the temperature and humidity, but you can also find premium products that report temperature, rainfall, humidity, heat index, wind speed, wind direction, wind chill, moon phase, UV intensity, lightning strikes, and more. It’s necessary to do some basic research to find a home weather station that has the functions you need or want.
Keep in mind that as the number of functions increases, the price of the product also typically increases, so if you don’t think you will have any use for a wind chill or lightning strike function, then it may be more cost-effective to look for a model that only has the functions you need.
FAQs
Q: Is a home weather station worth it?
A professional weather station can be over 10 miles away from your home, which may not seem like very far, but this distance can cause significant discrepancies between the local weather report and the actual weather you experience.
Weather instruments for home use are intended to provide accurate, extremely local weather information that can help you take advantage of changes in humidity, rainfall, and temperature during the gardening season. A home weather station can also warn you about approaching hazardous weather conditions. Beyond these practical purposes, many people may simply enjoy a personal weather station to take up meteorology as a hobby.
Q: How long do weather stations last?
On average, top-rated weather stations that are properly maintained can last up to 10 years. However, home weather stations can get damaged from high winds, hail, snow, or ice, so you may need to replace sensors or other sensitive parts.
Q: Where is the best place to put a weather station?
One factor that’s often overlooked is that a weather station needs to be placed in an area where the sensors can accurately detect the temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, UV ray intensity, ambient light, and even lightning strikes.
A small electronic weather station that only picks up temperature and humidity should be placed in an area that doesn’t get direct sunlight since this can affect the readings. However, if you have a more complex home weather station that detects the wind and rain, then it needs to be located in an open area, about 25 feet from structures and trees.
Keep rain gauges mounted level about five feet off the ground. At this height, the water can’t splash up off the ground and into the rain gauge. However, if you have an all-in-one outdoor weather station that measures rain, wind, temperature, and humidity, it’s best to mount the unit about ten feet off the ground. Additionally, a smart weather station requires access to WiFi, so it needs to be close enough to the home for wireless connectivity.
Q: How much do home weather stations cost?
The average cost of a residential weather station varies depending on the functions, connectivity, and durability. A basic backyard weather station that can detect the temperature and humidity may cost as little as $50, while the price for the best WiFi weather station can easily exceed $1,000.
Related: Best Solar Generators
Final Thoughts on the Best Home Weather Stations
The Davis Instruments Vantage Vue Weather Station is our best overall pick and features a 100-yard wireless transmission range and 2.5 second update speed. But if you’re looking for a more affordable option with basic temperature and humidity monitoring, the La Crosse Technology Wireless Forecast Station is a good budget choice.
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.
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