Now, “weather station” may sound like the type of fancypants technology that you’d see in a Hollywood blockbuster. But you don’t have to be Margot Robbie in a hypothetical (and probably inevitable) Twister remake to benefit from having one of these gadgets.
Sure, home weather stations have been in production for a while now. Davis Instrument is probably the longest-running weather station manufacturer, going strong for over three decades now. But, times change and technology moves fast; with rapid advances come reduced prices and greater availability for what once were niche technologies reserved for the wealthiest few.
But, if you’re going to get started on your amateur meteorologist hobby, then you’d better now that not all is democratic in the world of weather stations (and anywhere else, really). There are different types of stations for different types of uses, and you’re going to need to have a little knowledge of what’s what before you go out and buy one.
There are also different characteristics you should keep in mind before buying.
Weather Station Types
Weather stations are divided into what are essentially two subtypes, and you should know which one you need before making an impulse buy.
Home Weather Stations
are what you want if your goal is to obtain the most high-quality data through the installation of multiple sensor arrays. These, of course, allow you to get much better and precise forecasting than any other type of weather station.
Of course, these stations tend to be larger and require a very open area to be able to accurately gather data. They also come in different-sized arrays for different needs. More sensors mean that you’ll be able to pick up more detailed measurements, in general. Also, some stations allow for a modular setup that allows for more sensors to be tacked on.
These also come with a console with an LCD display and complete computer integration. The apps include being able to make multi-day weather forecasts with detailed graphs.
If you’re looking to have a long-standing, durable station, then these are the ones you should consider, first and foremost. You may have many reasons for needing a weather forecast: maybe you want to know if the weekend’s going to be nice for an amateur football tournament; maybe you’re planning a wedding and want to make sure that everything goes to plan; perhaps you’re conducting scientific research about how seasonal weather affects plantations year-round.
Whatever the case, these are the stations you should be considering if you’re thinking about getting serious.
Portable Weather Stations
Are going to be your gig if you need a low-hassle, no-frills solution to monitoring indoor or outdoor weather conditions. They have a limited sensor array, so you can just monitor temperature and humidity.
If you’re not looking for detailed readings, or if you just want to measure, say, the indoor temperature of a greenhouse for an agricultural operation, then you could get away with purchasing one of these and calling it a day.
Why do I Need to Buy a Weather Station
First, you can get accurate readings that are tailored to your location, and not what Google Weather or Accuweather decide that your location is. We’ve all been burned by these apps before — planning a gorgeous BBQ party for half the neighborhood, only for the sky to darken with hard rain ensuing. Definitely not a good look when other people were depending on you.
Readings are centered around your immediate area, so you don’t have to fret and worry about them being out-of-touch with your reality. That’s being proactive and not trusting second-hand opinions. If you want a job well done, it’s always been about doing it yourself with the tools at hand. A home weather station is the perfect tool for that job.
The data you receive is also in real-time. You don’t have to rely on hourly forecasts that may tell you what the weather was like one or two hours ago. This includes alerts for rapid weather changes. If you live in a tropical or subtropical climate, you’re surely aware of how things can turn on a dime; one moment things were peachy, and the next you’re buried under a thick sheet of rain. Maybe that’s great if you’re filming a scene for The Notebook 2, but useless for most anything else.
They are also much easier to use than one would initially think. They’re no longer specialist items that bury you in jargon, or require niche knowledge to use. They give clear, concise, easy-to-use data that’s shareable with other family members, or with a team of amateur weather-watchers.
In Closing
If you’re thinking about monitoring weather conditions, then definitely check out this link to get more information about the best weather stations out there. There are simply too many to list here, but we’re confident we’ve given you excellent information to get started on your search!