The 5 Best Home Weather Stations To Get Real-Time Updates

Station dimensions: 14 x 12 x 6 inches | Transmission range: 330 feet | Wi-Fi: Yes | Measures: Temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind direction, wind speed, UV intensity, solar radiation 

Pros:

• Includes in-home console and app integration
• Highly accurate data points
• System can be expanded with additional sensors

Cons:

• Some app features require paid subscription

The Ambient Weather WS-2000 is a highly accurate and easy-to-use home weather station that’s great for collecting basic data about local conditions. The wireless sensor array has an all-in-one design that’s easy to mount in your yard, and it’s able to measure key data points like wind speed/direction, temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity, rainfall, UV intensity and solar radiation. All of this data is transmitted back to the station’s in-home console, which has a detailed color display, but it can also be hooked up to Wi-Fi so the information is accessible on your smartphone, as well. 

This weather station can also be expanded with up to eight additional sensors, including lightning detectors, air quality monitors or even soil moisture meters. The product supports both imperial and metric units, depending on your preference, and if you ever think its data is inaccurate, you can re-calibrate the system for more precise readings. Just keep in mind that certain advanced app features, including snow depth or moisture maps, require a monthly subscription to AWN+.

Station dimensions: 1.58 x 0.83 x 5.08 inches | Transmission range: 330 feet | Wi-Fi: No | Measures: Temperature and humidity

Pros:

• Much cheaper than other options
• Displays indoor and outdoor data
• Compact outdoor sensor

Cons:

• Only measures temperature and humidity

If you just want more accurate temperature and humidity readings, the La Crosse Weather Station is a budget-friendly option for your home. It comes with an easy-to-read indoor console that displays both the indoor and outdoor conditions, and unlike other stations that have large, noticeable sensor arrays, this one has a compact outdoor sensor that monitors temperature and humidity. It’s barely noticeable when mounted out in your yard, but keep in mind that it runs on AA batteries that will need to be replaced periodically. In addition to viewing the temperature, you can set customized alerts on the console, and it can also display information like temperature trends, dew point, heat index, and the date and time.

Station dimensions: 11.8 x 4.23 inches | Transmission range: 1,000 feet | Wi-Fi: Yes | Measures: Temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed/direction, UV index, solar radiation, rain rate, rain accumulation, lightning activity 

Pros:

• Smaller, discreet sensor array
• Collects wide range of data points
• Longer transmission range
• Syncs with other smart devices

Cons:

• Haptic rain sensor isn’t the most accurate

Many home weather stations have large, noticeable sensor arrays with spinning vane and large cups for rain collection, but if you’re looking for something a bit more compact, the Tempest Weather System is worth the high price. Its solar-powered outdoor sensor is just over 4 inches in diameter, making it much more discreet when it’s mounted in your yard. However, it’s still able to collect a wide range of data points, including everything from wind speed/direction and UV index to rain rate and lightning activity. 

The Tempest Weather System doesn’t come with an in-home console—instead, all the data is transmitted right to your smartphone. It has a longer transmission range than other stations, allowing you to mount it further from your home, if needed, and it can even be synced up with other smart home devices, like Amazon Alexa or Rachio smart sprinklers. 

Station dimensions: 14 x 12 x 6 inches | Transmission range: 1,000 feet | Wi-Fi: Yes | Measures: PM2.5, PM10, CO2, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, dew point, wind speed/direction, UV intensity, heat index, solar radiation, rainfall 

Pros:

• Collects wide range of data points, including air quality
• Longer-than-average transmission range
• Includes mounting pole
• Additional sensors available

Cons: 

• Large investment

For more comprehensive weather data, it’s worth investing in this bundle from Ambient Weather, which includes the brand’s WS-5000 Ultrasonic Smart Weather Station, rain collector and two air quality monitors that allow you to track fine particulate and air pollution levels around your home. The setup is well-suited for anyone concerned about air quality, as it can track PM2.5, PM10 and CO2 levels. 

The main sensor array for this weather station uses ultrasonic sensors to monitor data like wind speed, UV intensity and more, and because there are no moving parts, you don’t have to worry about them breaking or wearing out. The station comes with a detailed in-home console where all the data is displayed, and the information is also sent to your smartphone. Plus, if there are more data points you want to collect, the system can be expanded with additional sensors from the brand.

Station dimensions: 10.8 x 5.6 x 13.8 inches | Transmission range: 330 feet | Wi-Fi: No | Measures: Temperature, humidity, wind speed/direction, barometric pressure, rainfall, lightning activity

Pros:

• Detects lightning up to 25 miles away
• Displays indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity
• Self-emptying rain gauge 

Cons:

• Sensor array runs on batteries

If you want to know when thunderstorms are approaching, the AcuRite Iris 5-in-1 Weather Station comes with a lightning detector that can sense storms up to 25 miles away, giving you plenty of advanced notice. This weather station can also monitor metrics like wind speed/direction, barometric pressure and rainfall, all of which it transmits to the in-home display. A large ticker at the bottom of the console will indicate when lightning is detected, and the unit also monitors and reports on indoor temperature and humidity, as well. 

This weather station has a separate sensor array and lightning detector, so you can mount them in separate locations in your yard. However, both components run on batteries—not solar power—so you’ll need to install them somewhere that’s easily accessible for maintenance.