What to Buy > Smart Home 342 342 people found this article helpful The Best Home Weather Stations of 2024 Our picks to watch the weather in your backyard By Meredith Popolo Meredith Popolo Writer Syracuse University Meredith Popolo is a freelance tech writer specializing in consumer technology. She has written for PCMag.com and Geek.com as well as Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 1, 2024 We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. In This Article View All In This Article Reviews What to Look For Frequently Asked Questions A home weather station gives you a live feed of data from your backyard, giving you valuable time when bad weather is on the way if you are a farmer or live in a storm-prone area. Even if you live where the climate is pretty steady, the amount of data you can collect with a home weather station is fascinating to explore. Best Overall Ambient Weather WiFi Smart Weather Station PHOTO: Amazon $190 at Amazon $190 at Walmart $190 at Wayfair Pros Multiple features Solid value Wi-Fi connectivity Cons Complicated setup Build quality With its ten sensors packed into a small, reasonably-priced package, the Ambient Weather WS-2902 is our best overall pick. It's not perfect, but its large sensor array will meet the needs of any weather enthusiast. You can get wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, outdoor temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and UV data. Inside, you get indoor temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Crucially, that sensor data is not only available for display on the so-so LCD. Thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity, it's available on nearly any device you own and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. We love the connectivity and accessibility here. The weather app collects weather data for analysis, and you can store the data for further investigation if that's your thing. Otherwise, the LCD will give you a solid picture of the weather around your home. Display: LCD | Humidity: Yes | Wind: Yes | Rainfall: Yes | Barometric Pressure: Yes Lifewire / Andy Zahn Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey Review Best Budget La Crosse Technology Weather Station PHOTO: Amazon $50 at Amazon $73 at Walmart Pros Easy setup Good value Cons Only takes basic measurements If simplicity is what you are after, the La Crosse Technology C85845V3 is for you. You get indoor and outdoor temperatures, humidity, and animated forecast icons on the LCD screen, which is color-coded and large enough to read from across the room. This weather station doesn't have all the bells and whistles that others do, but it has automatic time correction, daylight saving time, alarms, and temperature zone alerts. It's a simple device with just enough data to plan your day around the weather. Display: LCD | Humidity: Yes | Wind: No | Rainfall: No | Barometric Pressure: No Best 5-in-1 AcuRite 01528 PHOTO: Amazon View on Amazon $150 at Walmart View on Zoro.com Pros 5-in-1 12- to 24-hour forecasting Setup is easy Cons Durability is questionable This 5-in-1 station records the outside temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and rain. If you have a long day ahead, the station can provide a 24-hour forecast. Its LCD is easy to read from across the room, too. Display: LCD | Humidity: Yes | Wind: Yes | Rainfall: Yes | Barometric Pressure: No Best 3-in-1 AcuRite 00589 Pro Color PHOTO: Amazon $135 at Amazon $152 at Walmart $220 at Kohls.com Pros Good value Setup is easy Cons Poor viewing angles Missing some key metrics If you are weather-curious but budget-conscious, the AcuRite 00589 is one to consider. While its data is not as spot-on as the more expensive units on this list and lacks a rain sensor, the model is far less costly than many others. Unlike many more expensive weather stations, this unit uses standard AA batteries and doesn't have a solar panel to help keep them charged up. The display is slightly odd—it's claimed to be color but is a two-tone screen with a multicolored static background. The viewing angles are also poor. Display: LCD | Humidity: Yes | Wind: Yes | Rainfall: No | Barometric Pressure: Yes Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen Best Precision Logia 5-in-1 Wi-Fi Weather Station PHOTO: Amazon $120 at Amazon $120 at Walmart $120 at Home Depot Pros Setup is easy Bright display Accurate Cons Setup instructions unclear This Logia 5-in-1 (wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rainfall) weather station provides accurate data to the cloud and is then accessible via free iOS or Android apps. But the data syncs slower than others on this list, and getting Wi-Fi set up is more trouble than it should be. If you don't mind some potential troubleshooting, you'll get accurate data on its display and whichever mobile device you want. Display: LCD | Humidity: Yes | Wind: Yes | Rainfall: Yes | Barometric Pressure: Yes Best Design Netatmo Weather Station PHOTO: Amazon $180 at Amazon Pros Gorgeous design Superior accuracy Good software Expandability Cons Limited instrumentation Pricey Slow app refreshes No display (app required) The Netatmo Weather Station reminds us of one of those products that do NOT look like any other in its category, so much so you can identify it from far away (like the Volkswagen Beetle, for example). So, what's the summary on the Netatmo? You'll get accurate information and even data you don't get from other weather stations, but you have to use a separate device to view the data, as there's no included screen. And, to get what many would consider essential functions of rain and wind reports, you have to pay extra. Oh, and the data sometimes takes 10 minutes to sync. The Netatmo Personal Weather Station is a decent model with accurate readings, but, as is, it lacks the features and instruments to make a case for its rather exorbitant price tag—even though it does look great. Display: LCD | Humidity: Yes | Wind: No | Rainfall: No | Barometric Pressure: Yes Lifewire / Dallon Adams What to Look for in a Home Weather Station Durability Because your weather monitor is intended to measure all sorts of conditions, you'll need an outdoor sensor that can withstand even the snowiest storms. Look for rugged features, like casing, for protection from cyclic erosion or moisture. Also, check on the warranty, as some companies will reimburse you if the product doesn't live up to its promises. Transmission Distance The setup of your weather station can be crucial to its accuracy. Most importantly, it must sit within a certain distance of the display. Standard sensors usually work within 330 feet, but more premium models have a transmission distance of up to 1,000 feet. It's vital to keep transmission distance in mind when shopping for a weather station. Another important consideration is that transmission distance is generally advertised in clear, line-of-sight conditions. If you get a weather station that can transmit 300 feet, you should plan to mount the outside sensors within a circle or roughly 200 feet. Also, remember that some sensors should not be mounted in areas that receive direct sunlight, while others require mounting in direct sunlight. Connectivity Your outdoor sensor will connect to an indoor monitor that displays measurements in a standard setup. Some more advanced models will also link to your computer or mobile device so that you can view stats remotely. Still not impressed? Some models are even integrated with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit so that you can ask your assistant for your local weather. Should You Buy a Personal Weather Station? FAQ How difficult is installing a home weather station? This depends. Some weather stations barely need any installation at all. However, more complicated stations have a variety of instrumentation and masts that require a more substantial amount of setup. Furthermore, mast-based sensors may require that you have permission from a specific property before installation. Does your home weather station need access to Wi-Fi? If you want to access readouts from your weather station remotely, you should ensure that it has a relatively stable connection to your home network. This network connection isn't always necessary. Some home weather sensors have built-in LCD panels that can provide up-to-date information without internet connectivity. Why should you have a weather station? If you live in an area prone to hazardous weather conditions, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, home weather stations can provide you with a warning far faster than a local weather forecast can, especially if you live in a more rural area.Beyond providing a heads-up against destructive weather patterns, home weather stations can give you localized data on humidity and rainfall if you're an avid gardener. For others, monitoring the weather is a fun hobby.Measuring rainfall and wind direction can be a fascinating look into your local meteorology. You can even contribute that data to crowd-sourced weather services like Weather Underground. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit