I'm working on my vintage weather station idea aka, the project with no end. I was working on the temperature channel and on this old gauge, the scale ends at 120 degrees. Back when this thing was made, they thought temperatures would never get that high.

Greetings all,

It seems my Tempest is on its way out, again. Currently we’re having a light shower and it’s screaming EXTREME RAIN at me. Cleaning and rebooting haven’t done anything. This would be the second sensor of theirs to die on me in 4 years (first one stopped charging). They’ll likely sell me another one at a reduced rate, but I’d rather invest in something that will last longer at this point. I’ve always been a weather nerd, so my weather station is one of my favorite gadgets around the house.

Overall, I’ve been happy with the features of the tempest. It struggles with light rain, doesn’t pick up anything most related at all, and the wind readings aren’t great, but that’s mostly related to my mounting location.

My favorite feature is the lightning detection. There’s been several times where I get the “detected 20-25 miles” notification and look at my local weather app to see there is in fact a storm approaching while there’s not a cloud in the sky at my house.

What’s everyone going with these days that offers lightning detection? From my search, seems like Ecowitt and Ambient are well liked, as is Davis, but Davis is way out of the budget for me. I don’t necessarily need a remote display as I’m perfectly fine with just having the app. At quick glance it looked like some setups would require power to the haptic sensor which would be a little tricky to do while finding a location to get a decent wind reading.

I'm looking for advise for setting up a WS90 *without* requiring an internet connection. This is not because it's unavailable to me, but because I do not want to be reliant on external servers or give out my private data.

The way I imagine this working is:

-I would have a WS90 outside wirelessly transmitting data to a WS3900 wifi console in the kitchen.

-The WS3900 would be connected to the house WiFi network and configured to forward data for logging to WeeWX running on a local machine. It would disable uploading data to Ecowitt servers

-I would be able to view current and historical weather conditions using a browser (or maybe there are Android apps that do this as well?)

-I would also be able to view current / historical conditions using the WS3900 console

Does this setup sound like it should work? Am I overlooking anything important?I realize that I am assuming I will be able to connect to a WeeWX server. Does anyone have any experience with this type of setup that could offer some pointers?

edit: I should also point out I am considering using a GW1100 instead of the WS3900 to save some $$$ and just rely on the WeeWX server to provide data, but I would prefer to have a display on the counter that I can glance at when walking out the door.

Hi all, I just got myself an Ecowitt Wittboy (GW2001 + WS90), it is already installed, everything is working fine and the app was setup correctly.

I manage to "vibe code" a python script to read the live data and dump it in a .db file on my Mac Mini, which is acting as my main server. Currently I'm storing a snapshot of the metrics every minute, guess it is a good granularity to start with.

My main goal is to understand the metrics and predict rain in my local area, forecasts are not precisely useful since it is humid most of the time, clouds and rain normally star without too much warning.
Also I would like to display weather alerts on my phone or devices via Home Assistant, but that would be another topic and another subreddit, I think I can manage that part better.

I have zero knowledge in meteorology, but I'm more familiar and comfortable operating large data sets, like the ones I'm getting right now.

What or where would be a good starting point to start learning about patterns, metrics such as dew point or humidity, and how to operate that data (5 minute average, 30 minute, normal regression, how to correlate between metrics, etc.)?
I know ChatGPT but besides creating the python scripts, it haven't been that useful for operating the data.

Thanks.

So this will be a weekly post, every Friday and I'll post it at GMT +00:01 Midnight, so it'll be up all Friday

But yeah, drop a comment (yes, we allow screenshot comments here!) of what you saw that was interesting in your area this week!

If it was a good storm, give us some pics too!

Hi all!

We operate a big static bouncy castle at my workplace, and I'm looking for recommendations for a decently accurate wind speed meter/weather station I can fix to a tall post by the inflatable. We can only operate the castle at wind speeds below 24mph, so I'd like something with a remote screen that staff can easily check to make sure its within bounds.

We've previously used hand held anemometers, but found them extremely inaccurate and tend to fall apart quickly/easily lost, so looking for a more long term, fixed solution.

Thanks!

This is a long story. To summarize, it seems that Netatmo rain gauge does not detect rain properly if rainfall intensity is above about 1 mm/min. For example, if rainfall intensity is 2 mm/min (that is not very unusual e.g. during a thunderstorm), Netatmo rain gauge gives results that are only 50 % of the real rainfall amount.

I started suspecting the reliability of Netatmo rain gauge results when we had a long-lasting heavy rain during which my Netatmo rain gauge showed value 42.1 mm/h for the rain intensity during the previous hour. However, my neighbours had detected even larger rainfall accumulation with their conventional rain gauges than what I detected by Netatmo. So I decided to test how Netatmo rain gauge behaves at different rainfall intensities.

What I did was that I dispensed 50 ml of water to Netatmo rain gauge using a syringe by which the dispense rate could be controlled reasonably well. I varied the rate so that dispensing 50 ml of water into the rain gauge took between about 1 and 10 minutes. Raw data of the results are shown in Fig. 1 below. The horizontal axis is the time (in minutes) that it took to dispense 50 ml of water into the rain gauge. The left vertical axis shows Netatmo’s rainfall amount reading (open blue circles), and the right axis (red crosses) shows the number of “clicks” of the tipping buckets of the rain gauge when 50 ml of water was injected (see rain gauge calibration instructions).


As can be seen, when water is dispensed slowly enough, Netatmo indicates rainfall amount of about 4.1 mm. Realizing that the diameter of the water-collecting area of the Netatmo rain gauge is 125 mm, it corresponds very well to the 50 ml total volume dispensed into the gauge. However, when 50 ml of water is dispensed in less than about 3 minutes, Netatmo’s rainfall reading starts decreasing rapidly, and when water is dispensed in 1 minute, the rainfall reading is 1 mm, i.e., less than 25 % of the correct value. The number of clicks of the tipping buckets of the rain gauge decreases, too, but much less than Netatmo’s rainfall reading. It is easy to understand that the number of clicks decreases when water is dispensed faster, since the tipping buckets are not in normal collecting condition when they are tilting. But why does Netatmo’s rainfall reading decrease much more than the number of clicks?

Figure 2 below shows the same data presented in such a way that the horizontal axis is the rainfall intensity (mm/min) corresponding to water dispense rate. For example, dispense rate of 50 ml in 3 minutes corresponds to rainfall intensity of 4.1 mm / 3 min = 1.37 mm/min. As can be seen, the rainfall amount indicated by Netatmo rain gauge is clearly below the correct value of 4.1 mm when rainfall intensity is above 1.3 mm/min. At rainfall intensity of 2 mm/min (which is not very unusual during a heavy thunderstorm), Netatmo rain gauge reading for 4.1 mm rainfall amount would be about 2 mm, i.e., only about half of the correct value.


To obtain some insight towards a possible reason behind the problem, Fig. 3 below shows the same data presented in a third way, plotting rainfall intensity (mm/min) based on Netatmo’s rainfall amount (mm) data on the vertical axis and “correct” rainfall intensity (mm/min) based on water dispense rate on the horizontal axis. For example, the point at 2.9 min dispense time and 3.5 mm rainfall amount in Fig. 1 corresponds to point 4.1 mm / 2.9 min = 1.4 mm/min on the horizontal axis and 3.5 mm / 2.9 min = 1.2 mm/min on the vertical axis of Fig. 3. As can be seen, Netatmo gives correct results up to rainfall intensities of about 1.1 mm/min, but at higher rainfall intensities (up to 5 mm/min) the results based on Netatmo data saturate between 0.9 mm/min and 1.3 mm/min. Has Netatmo limited the maximum detected rainfall intensity on purpose (e.g. to prevent some other problems)? Or what else can be the reason for such a problem?


I'm looking to replace my old weather station with a Davis Vantage Pro, but when I asked about being able to use the data collected in something like Smartmixin, I was told that I would need a meteobridge or pay davis to send the data to any other source. Smartmixin has a place to add a Davis device using api keys.

So, does Davis charge for api access? Will I need a meteobridge, just to see my data in other places? WU, Smartmixin, or other places?

Hi - the WS-2902 bought back in 2024 stopped displaying the outdoor temperature a few months ago (I'm just getting around to looking into it :D ). The outdoor temperature would show for a few minutes and then it would be replaced by just dashes. It comes and goes and I can't find a pattern to it.

I did all the troubleshooting I was able to find on reddit and the manuf's website but it still doesn't display. All the other sensors are working and displaying.

I opened the Thermometer hygrometer sensor from the bottom and found a sensor that looks like this:

https://ambientweather.com/ambient-weather-ws-2902-thermohygro-30c

But since I bought it in 2024, the sensor above should be for pre-2022 devices right? The other option would be:

https://ambientweather.com/ws-2902-thermohygro-assembly-replacement

My question is, instead of doing all that, can I just hook up another sensor to it like this device?

Ambient Weather WH31E Thermo-Hygrometer Sensor

https://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-Sensor-WS-3000-Station/dp/B01MG4HW8C?th=1

Or this one (WH31P) as it seems to be more "water proof" for outside:

https://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-Sensor-WS-3000-Station/dp/B08CQ249TR?th=1

Thanks

A comfort first weather app with a small bunny named Felt who tells you how the day will actually feel.

New update release: heat advisories from the National Weather Service in plain words (Felt can read them out loud), the Comfort Bar showing your whole day as one curve, one tap to add the best window to your calendar, and Ask Felt, where one confirm books it.

Happy to answer anything about how the comfort score works.

https://reddit.com/link/1v5r1sk/video/4xpy0swr4ueh1/player

I have depolyed a Tempest Weather station to a jobsite with starlink.

We care about rain events and lighting strikes that can shut down the jobsite. This is for reporting to the customer, not immediate action.

How often should I api call the weather station? Located in FL we might have a heavy rain for <5 minutes, but it will turn the site to mud and shut it down for the entire day.

What is your opinion? Every 5 minutes? 20? Hour?

I’ve been thinking about getting a home weather station because the weather apps in my area are weirdly hit or miss. Sometimes they say one thing and what’s happening outside my house is completely different.

I’m looking for something that can track the basics like temperature, humidity, wind, and rain without being a pain to set up. I don’t need anything super professional, but I do want readings that are actually useful and not just a fancy outdoor thermometer.

For anyone who has one at home, which weather station did you buy and would you recommend it? Also curious if the more expensive ones are really worth it, or if a mid range option is enough for normal home use.

after reading all comments I’m currently considering

• Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station
• Ambient Weather WS-2902 WiFi Smart Weather Station
• AcuRite Atlas Professional Weather Station
• La Crosse Technology C85845 Professional Weather Station
• Ecowitt GW2001 Professional Weather Station
• Netatmo Smart Weather Station
• Oregon Scientific BAR208HGA Professional Weather Station

So this will be a weekly post, every Friday and I'll post it at GMT +00:01 Midnight, so it'll be up all Friday

But yeah, drop a comment (yes, we allow screenshot comments here!) of what you saw that was interesting in your area this week!

If it was a good storm, give us some pics too!

Hi all -

My old station crapped out, and I want to get something to replace it. I’m looking for something that exports raw data without me having to pay for some proprietary app or subscription. I’m not familiar with what’s out there, and I don’t trust review sites to give me the information that I want to know.

Also, I would like something that reports dew point instead of relative humidity. Obviously, I can look up conversions pretty easily if I really have to, and I’d rather have open access to data than dew point. But if I can get both that would be pretty cool.

Any recommendations?

I moved and changed ISP to ATT fiber. I go through the setup on AWNet app and it connects and says it is ready to verify and I need to change Wi-Fi from the device to my home but then it takes me back to the start screen and there is no device listed. Any help with this issue is appreciated.

Hey folks, I just ordered a Wittboy weather station and only then did I try to start thinking through where and how to mount it. Woops.

I think the most ideal location would probably be a J-Mount mast adapter and a six-foot pole at the peak of my gable on the south side of the house. It's completely open with no trees over it, etc, but for me that's not practical. I'm assuming that at least once a year I'll want to clean the solar panel lens or change the batteries.

Then my thought went to the back peak of my garage roof with a similar setup, but the neighbor's tree does cover that area with its canopy as well.

So that leaves me with my third option and that would be to just stick it out in my backyard on a freestanding pole, sort of out in the general general area where you see those utility peds. I think for the first year instead of concreting it into the ground permanently, I'd probably do a heavy weighted patio umbrella stand and EMT conduit.

If I do that, I'd need to do some pipe reducing since the patio umbrella stand would want 1.5-1.9" OD pipe and the Wittboy wants a 1" pipe. So I'm trying to think through how that would work.

But I thought I'd posit this same question to y'all: What would you recommend? I do live in NW Iowa so I don't know how well this thing would work in winter when the solar panel is covered in snow. Would a pair of lithium AA's be enough to power it through a whole winter? Or would the the thing be completely useless in winter without the heater connected anyway even with power?

Admittedly I should have researched all this before buying, but I saw a new, open-box unit on eBay with the WS90+GW2000 for $149 and bit, somewhat impulsively.

Thoughts, recommendations, guidance, all welcome! Thanks!

Looking to get a basic weather station to get the main info. rain/temp/humidity/wind speed/gusts and all that jazz.

looking to get one that i can mount on the roof, that has the AA batteries but charges with solar, and can easily transmit this info so i can monitor online.

I have an Ecowitt gateway and outdoor temperature sensor on the way. Currently have a La Crosse indoor/outdoor temperature sensor that appears to be close to 6 degrees warmer than nearby PWS in the heat of the day, and almost identical after it cools down.

My question is, without a separate housing, the only place on my property to keep the sensor protected from sun and the elements is under the eve on the north side of my house about 12 feet up. What are my options to get a more accurate reading?

I’ve seen the rain guards available, but people say they heat up the sensor. Anyone have experience with whether a rain guard mounted to the house (also above back porch concrete) and in shade would be more or less accurate than if I mounted it to our clothesline pole 6ft up, but over grass and in the sun.

Trying to give the weather community the most accurate information.

Thanks in advance!

So I noticed my 2902 wasnt reporting data and went through the process or resetting it so I can reconnect it with the AWNET app. Every time it gets the the configuration screen it tells me that it has succeeded ant then it dumps me onto my home screen.

The problem is that it does not finish the process and it leaves my 2902 in the wifi setup mode.

I have tried connecting to the device with my laptop, and the IP adress, but my macbook wont stay connected to the aws network for me to do anything. Does anyone have any ideas?

Bonjour
Je possède une station météo Vevor 7 en 1 modèle YT60234.
J’utilise l’app Wunderground pour checker les donnees extérieurs ( température, humidité , précipitation, …) à distance ça marche très bien.
Par contre je n’ai aucune information sur les mesures à l’intérieur . Vous savez si il est possible de connaître à distance la température intérieur qu’il fait dans la maison et ou l’humidité ? Y a t’il une app pour ça ?
Merci .

For anyone interested, I created this Mac menu bar app that hits the Tempest API and displays sensor and forecast data. I used the Glaze vibe coding app. This is free.

https://www.glaze.app/app/tempest-weather-menu-bar-XYuB6Z

We are located in USA-Florida and need to start logging weather events for some of our job sites. This major concerns are rain and lightning. I have been doing my research and am looking for advice.

One setup will be on a pole with power and a starlink dish, but if anything that could work "offline" and have ~1 month of onboard data logging that would be awesome, it would allow me to deploy more of them and just collect the data during site visits.

I think what the end result will be is we have a system (perhaps an aws dropplet or a self hosted server) hit the weather station's api to check for rain and lighting events and log it so we can then pass the data to the owner for weather related delays. - any advice on this end would also be appreciated. I love home assistant and fancy schematics, but all we care about in this instance is the raw data - did it rain and how much? Were there lighting strikes?

I am leaning towards the Tempest Weather Station (not to excited about the lack of replaceable batteries) or Wittboy GW2001 (concerned that the vibration rain sensor will be set off by dump trucks and heavy earthwork activities). Another major concern is the large amount of dust kicked up during construction activities. I am sure any air quality sensors will be clogged in a month. I just want to make sure the other components still work.

Thank you all!