The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (2024)

Need to know what the weather is? Stop depending on an inaccurate app. Home weather stations record data several times per minute, providing a much more detailed look into the whims of Mother Nature than your phone or the local news can.

A typical home weather station includes a shoebox-sized sensor suite (called an ISS - “Integrated Sensor Suite”) placed outside in an open area. This will require a sturdy mounting location free of any obstructions. Many also include a tablet-sized desktop console display that allows you to view collected information.

Not all weather stations have consoles, however. Some manufacturers opt for a mobile app or website for access to your data, which require a connection to the Internet.

While not a requirement, I recommend opting for internet-connected models because they offer much more functionality. You can share your data with the world via services like Weather Underground. Smart home support is another benefit, which allows you to control other devices using data from your station

Higher-end weather stations offer expandability, which allows you to add additional sensors to your home. This may be useful if you’d like to track temperatures in several locations or have a need for UV and solar radiation, soil moisture, or water leak detection monitoring.

So what is the best home weather station? That depends on your budget and what you plan to use it for. Read on for our hands-on experience and advice on what to look for and how to set up your station correctly.

Best Home Weather Stations

The Expert: I’ve been a weather enthusiast since I was a child. As an adult, I’ve combined my professional life – a technology journalist – with my passion for the weather to review weather stations and gadgets. My weather station reviews have appeared on TechHive and Digital Trends, and I have personally tested every station I recommend in my reviews. I also run The Weather Station Experts, a weather gadget reviews blog.

What to Consider When Shopping for a Home Weather Station

Weather stations can monitor many weather conditions, but what they measure varies from model to model. I recommend looking for stations that measure the following:

  • Indoor and outdoor temperature
  • Indoor and Outdoor humidity
  • Barometric pressure
  • Rainfall

These are the basics, and some stations can measure much more than just these. Wind speed and direction data may be useful if you have an obstruction-free area on your property to place your station; others offer UV and solar energy data or lightning detection.

How We Selected These Home Weather Stations

The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (1)

I’ve tested over a dozen weather stations over the past decade, including both budget and high-end models. As scientific instruments, accuracy and reliability are my main focus areas when reviewing each station. These units are tested in a similar environment on the same mast for up to a month to ensure each one experiences varied weather conditions.

In addition to my reviews, I consider customer reviews and other professional reviews of the products to ensure our experiences match other weather station owners.

Best Overall

WeatherFlow Tempest Weather Station

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Pros
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (3)No moving parts for longer life
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (4)Completely solar powered
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (5)Outstanding lightning detection
Cons
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (6)The haptic rain gauge isn’t as accurate as we hoped

Key Specs

MeasuresTemperature, solar radiation and UV, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, dew point, lightning strikes, and rainfall
Smart Home ConnectivityYes
ConsoleNo
Sensor powerSolar

WeatherFlow has extensive experience in weather stations, having built a network of coastal weather stations that are invaluable in tracking coastal storms and hurricanes. The Tempest is the company’s first home weather station.

For the most part, this unit is a decent starting point. Powered entirely by the sun, it has no moving parts: the rain gauge is a haptic sensor on the top, and wind speed and direction are measured sonically. Lightning detection is also the best for any personal weather station I’ve tested.

The Tempest can also trigger your smart home devices thanks to support for IFTTT, a smart home automation service. Other than some accuracy issues with the haptic rain gauge, it’s among the best on the market.

Pros
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (8)Good value for smart home connectivity
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (9)Better than average accuracy for its price range
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (10)Surprisingly durable in the long-term
Cons
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (11)No expandability

Key Specs

MeasuresTemperature, solar radiation and UV, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, dew point, and rainfall
Sensor powerSolar with battery backup

When it comes to value, you can’t get much better than the Ambient Weather WS-2902. Now in its fifth update, the station is easier than ever to install, thanks to an upgraded in-app setup process. Also new as of the last generation is a better console, which is easier to see compared to earlier versions that weren’t readable unless you were looking at it head-on.

While it has no lightning detection capabilities, it has everything else the WeatherFlow Tempest does at a significantly lower price. I was shocked at how accurate the sensors are for a “budget” weather station: it’s almost as good as some higher-tier options. Sure, it isn’t expandable and needs batteries for the sensor suite, but the price makes up for that.

Best Digital Thermometer

La Crosse Technology C85845-INT Weather Station

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Pros
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (13)Very affordable
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (14)Large easy to read console
Cons
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (15)Limited functionality

Key Specs

MeasuresTemperature and humidity
Sensor powerBatteries

If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of a home weather station, the LaCrosse C858545-INT is a great alternative. The sensor only tracks temperature-related data, such as heat index, humidity, and dew point. That means no records on rainfall or wind, but this data is less crucial if you're not caring for a garden or farm. The C85845-INT also can’t connect to an app or your smart speaker.

Instead, all your data lives on a full-color LCD screen housed in a 9- by-5.4-inch display, the largest here. The already bright screen has backlighting for nighttime use and other dark conditions. The console and the sensor are battery-operated, and an indicator on the display lets you know when it’s time to swap in a fresh set.

Best for HomeKit Smart Homes

Netatmo Weather Station

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Pros
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (17)Apple HomeKit compatible
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (18)Well-designed app and website
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (19)Generally accurate readings
Cons
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (20)Each piece is sold separately, increasing initial investment
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (21)Rain gauge and anemometer aren’t as solidly constructed as others

Key Specs

MeasuresTemperature, humidity, barometric pressure, dewpoint, CO2, sound levels, optional sonic anemometer (wind speed and direction) and rain gauge
Smart Home ConnectivityYes, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit (Siri)
ConsoleNo
Sensor powerBatteries

The base Netatmo weather station model includes two sensors: a battery-operated outdoor tower that tracks temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure; and an AC-powered indoor one that goes beyond competitors to keep an eye on CO2 and sound levels. All these measurements were generally accurate in my test, although you must purchase the compatible rain gauge and anemometer separately.

This makes the Netatmo more expensive than many of our recommendations. But if you use Apple HomeKit, it’s one of the few home weather stations to support the technology.

There’s also no console. All of your data is only accessible through the Netatmo Weather app or its website, but both are well designed with easy access to historical data and graphing tools. You can also pair the Netatmo with Amazon and Apple smart speakers and request weather reports from Alexa or Siri.

Best Prosumer Pick

NK Kestrel KestrelMet 6000 Weather Station

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Pros
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (23)Lightning-fast installation
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (24)High-quality construction
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (25)Expandable
Cons
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (26)Missing some key features at its price point
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (27)No reliability data since it’s so new

Key Specs

MeasuresTemperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, dew point, and rainfall
Smart Home ConnectivityYes
ConsoleNo
Sensor powerSolar

Kestrel is better known for its high-quality handheld wind and weather meters, but the brand’s first foray into home weather stations is a home run. Since it is a Neilsen-Kellerman company (as is Ambient Weather), the 6000 uses the Ambient Weather Network for internet and smart home connectivity.

Kestrel omitted UV and solar sensors (which nearly every cheaper Ambient Weather station has) and made it optional, which is one of my few issues with the 6000. But the inclusion of fan aspiration in the base model and the option to connect to your station via the cellular network make this a top choice for more demanding weather enthusiasts, beating out even the Davis Vantage Pro2.

One potential negative: we don’t have the reliability data that we have with Davis stations. The Vantage Pro2 (or something similar) has been sold for two decades: the 6000 has been on the market for only a year. So far so good: save for a software bug that affected barometric pressure readings that has since been corrected, operation has been flawless.

Most Expandable

Ambient Weather WS-5000 Weather Station

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Pros
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (29)Expandability
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (30)Very accurate
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (31)Attractive console
Cons
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (32)Got significantly more expensive since launch
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (33)On-console setup isn’t user-friendly

Key Specs

MeasuresTemperature, solar radiation and UV, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, dew point, and rainfall, optional lightning, air quality, soil moisture, leak detector, waterproof probe, and additional temperature/humidity sensors
Smart Home ConnectivityYes
ConsoleYes
Sensor powerSolar/Batteries (optional sensors vary)

The Ambient Weather WS-5000 is one of the most fully featured weather stations on the market. While it doesn’t include a lightning detector in the base package, you can add one and a half-dozen other optional sensors. All the sensors I tested were accurate, although all the optional sensors require batteries, so that’s something to keep in mind.

The biggest thing going against the WS-5000 is its price. At one point, this station was just $300, making it a bargain. Now at $450, it is pretty expensive, even with longer-range connectivity between the station and your sensors. But it's worth the money if you’d like to track more than the standard weather measurements.

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Best for Weather Enthusiasts

Davis Instruments Vantage Vue with WeatherLink Console Weather Station

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Pros
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (36)Cheaper than the Vantage Pro2
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (37)Excellent performance and accuracy
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (38)New console is feature-packed
Cons
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (39)Doesn’t work with AirLink (yet)
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (40)Console is clunky to operate

Key Specs

MeasuresTemperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, and direction, optional air quality sensor (WeatherLink required)
Smart Home ConnectivityNo (WeatherLink required for Internet Connectivity)
ConsoleYes
Sensor powerSolar/Batteries/AC (optional sensors vary)

The Davis Instruments Vantage Vue is now two decades old. For much of that time, it was using the same console – which even at the time it was released was a bit dated. That’s changed with the WeatherLink Console, which puts the Vantage Vue in line with every other modern home weather station.

I’ve had a Vantage Vue installed continuously since 2016, and I can attest to the accuracy, which only seems to slip in hot and sunny weather due to a lack of fan aspiration around the temperature sensor. The console is feature packed, but the UI isn’t user friendly, and it lacks AirLink support. I’m told updates will address these issues over time.

While I only mention the Vantage Vue here, Davis has a high end model called the Vantage Pro2. However, the KestrelMet 6000 is ever so slightly better, thanks to the inclusion of fan aspiration. That’s a nearly $300 option on the Pro2.

Best Mix of Value and Expandability

Ambient Weather WS-2000 Weather Station

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Pros
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (42)Expandability
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (43)Much cheaper than the WS-5000
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (44)Attractive console
Cons
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (45)Lower quality sensor suite sacrifices some accuracy
  • The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (46)On-console setup isn’t that user-friendly

Key Specs

MeasuresTemperature, solar radiation and UV, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, dew point, and rainfall, optional lightning, air quality, soil moisture, leak detector, waterproof probe, and additional temperature/humidity sensors
Smart Home ConnectivityYes
ConsoleYes
Sensor powerSolar/Batteries (optional sensors vary)

While I haven’t had a chance to test the WS-2000 myself, I’ve tested the sensor suite in the WS-2902, and the console in the WS-5000. That’s essentially what the WS-2000 is. While you’ll get slightly less accurate ratings due to the lower quality sensors, the console allows you to add all the optional sensors of the WS-5000 without breaking the bank.

While we’d still steer those looking for accuracy to the WS-5000 or Davis Vantage Vue, the WS-2000 is an excellent compromise for budget-conscious weather enthusiasts.

Expert Ed Oswald on why you shouldn’t depend on a smartphone weather app, why everyone should own a home weather station, and his first weather memory

The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist (2024)

FAQs

The Best Home Weather Stations to Become Your Own Meteorologist? ›

The Ambient Weather WS-2000 Smart Weather Station is our pick for the best home weather station overall because it's an advanced, capable device that's yours for a great price. It can be set to Imperial or Metric units, it has a bright, clear display, and it's reliable even in extreme weather conditions.

What is the most accurate home weather station? ›

Share
  • Best Overall: AcuRite Iris Weather Station with High-Def Direct-to-Wi-Fi Display and Lightning Detection.
  • Most Comprehensive: Ambient Weather WS-2000 WiFi Osprey Solar Powered Wireless Weather Station.
  • Best Budget: Baldr Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Weather Station.
  • Best Minimalist: Eve Weather.
May 3, 2024

What is the best weather station for beginners? ›

We recommend the WeatherFlow Tempest (our best overall pick) to just about everyone, from beginners to weather enthusiasts. It's very easy to set up and use, with an intuitive app and accurate local forecasts, and tons of data to sift through.

Are personal weather stations worth it? ›

A home weather station can provide a lot of benefits. For example, when you want to know your local weather so you can plan your day, a personal weather station can be tremendously valuable.

How do I choose a weather station for my house? ›

Choosing the Right Home Weather Station
  1. Accuracy and Reliability. The primary purpose of a home weather station is to provide accurate weather information. ...
  2. Wireless Connectivity. ...
  3. Power Source. ...
  4. Data Transmission and Storage. ...
  5. Cost. ...
  6. Temperature and Humidity. ...
  7. Barometric Pressure. ...
  8. Wind Speed and Direction.

What weather station is the most reliable? ›

Best Home Weather Stations
  • Best Overall: Weatherflow Tempest Weather Station.
  • Best Value: Ambient Weather WS-2902 Weather Station.
  • Best Digital Thermometer: La Crosse Technology C85845-INT Weather Station.
  • Best for Homekit Smart Homes: Netatmo Weather Station.
  • Best Prosumer Pick: KestrelMet 6000 Weather Station.
Sep 29, 2023

Where is the best place to put a home weather station? ›

You'll want to make sure it is in a location away from heat sources such as air conditioning units or chimneys. A good line of site between the controller and the weather station is recommended to good communication.

Is AcuRite a good brand? ›

AcuRite is known for its ease of use, reliable quality, and precision accuracy.

Are La Crosse weather stations any good? ›

This weather station is fairly easy to install and provides a wealth of information about the weather and atmosphere outside. It's been especially helpful with the dangerously high heats and heat indices we've been having here lately. The screen is multi-colored and easy to read from a distance.

What is a first order weather station? ›

A meteorological station at which autographic records or hourly readings of atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, wind, sunshine, and precipitation are made, together with observations at fixed hours of the amount and form of clouds and notes on the weather.

What is the lifespan of a weather station? ›

Prolonged exposure to high levels of humidity, whether salt, acidic or not, predisposes metal parts to fail prematurely. In a hot and dry environment weather stations are known to last 7-10 years. Hurricanes and tropical storms can also reduce the life of a weather station.

What are the disadvantages of the weather station? ›

Disadvantages of automatic weather station:

Difficult to maintain: the equipment of automatic weather station is more complicated, which requires professional personnel to maintain and repair, and it is difficult to maintain.

Do meteorologists use weather stations? ›

Weather stations are the backbone of all meteorology and forecasting. While meteorologists toil at the computer building forecasts, weather stations are out in the field capturing the information weather scientists need to feed into their calculations.

What is the best brand of home weather stations? ›

More
  • Best Overall : Ambient Weather WS-2000 Smart Weather Station » ...
  • Best Budget: AcuRite 75077A3M Self-Learning Forecast Weather Station » ...
  • Best Portable Home Weather Station: Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter » ...
  • Best Advanced Weather Station: Ambient Weather WS-5000 Ultrasonic Smart Weather Station »

How do I choose a good weather station? ›

When buying a new station you should consider the following criteria:
  1. Ease of installation and set-up.
  2. Number and quality of sensors.
  3. Ease of connecting data to Weather Underground.
  4. Connectivity of device to internet (wifi or computer)

Should weather stations be in sun or shade? ›

above the ground, over grass, in an open area, and in the shade. You don't want your weather station in the sun because it will track the heat of the materials on the instrument.

How accurate are home weather stations? ›

While temperature is generally accurate to within a degree or so, humidity is poorly measured, and overall readings can be 10 to 15 percent off actual values. Mid-range and high-end weather stations are typically much better, and in my experience are never more than about 5-percent off most of the time.

Which weather network is most reliable? ›

With over 20 years of historical weather data at our fingertips, The Weather Network is Canada's most trusted source for up-to-date weather forecasting information around the world.

Is AccuWeather more accurate than weather Channel? ›

The Weather Channel was not as accurate as AccuWeather, but it was more accurate than Dark Sky. answer those questions, the data collection process could be automated and extended over a longer period of time.

Who has the most accurate weather data? ›

Better accuracy means better decisions

Powered by proprietary GRAF technology (Global High-Resolution Atmospheric Forecasting), The Weather Company is The World's Most Accurate Forecaster1 and a trusted weather partner for people and businesses everywhere.

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