Best Weather Station for Weather Underground [TOP 5 REVIEWS]
Buying a weather station is a very worthwhile enterprise. Whether you need the data for your own agricultural or business purposes or are a home enthusiast aiming to learn more about weather systems, the market today is full of options that meet the grade.
However, with so many different models to choose from, which you should go for in 2021? That’s where this guide comes in.
Below you will find 5 carefully selected weather stations for weather underground, covering a range of budgets, measurement sensors, and features.
For our findings at a glance, just head to the summary boxes below. For a comprehensive review of each of our picks, plus a detailed buyer’s guide, keep on reading.
Best Weather Station for Weather Underground
Best Overall: Ambient Weather WS-2902
- COMPLETE WEATHER STATION: (1) Osprey Sensor Array with Rain Cup, and (1) Brilliant, Easy-to-Read LCD Color Display
- AUTHENTIC HYPER-LOCAL DATA: Monitor your actual home and backyard weather conditions with our wireless and Wi-Fi-enabled sensor array measuring wind speed/direction, temperature, humidity, rainfall, UV intensity, and solar radiation
- SMART HOME READY: Set up alerts, access your data remotely, and program your home based on weather conditions using IFTT, Google Home, Alexa, and more
- ENHANCED WIFI: Enables your station to transmit its data wirelessly to the world's largest personal weather station network (optional setting)
- JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Connect to Ambient Weather Network to customize your dashboard tiles, share hyperlocal weather conditions via social feeds and create your own forecasts (coming soon)
Overall the Ambient Weather WS-2902A is an excellent professional weather station for weather underground. It has everything the home user would ever need.
Easy to use with reliable performance and the ability to read the data fully remotely. The fact that it wirelessly connects to the Weather Underground network with minimum configuration is another major advantage.
Our number one pick weather station for 2021 for good reason.
Best Premium: Davis Instruments 6152 Vantage Pro2
- Professional and rugged weather station gives you inside/outside temperature and humidity; rain, wind, barometer, dew point, heat index, wind chill, and more
- Fast updates every 2.5 seconds with 1,000 feet (300 m) wireless transmission range
- Large backlit console with alarms, graphs, forecast
- Anemometer can be mounted separately
- Outdoor sensor suite is solar-powered with battery backup
If you’re looking for a premium weather station with an extensive range of data measurement capabilities, the Davis Instruments 6152 is the unit to buy.
Packed with features, this accurate and easy to use system will help take your weather reading ability to the next level.
Best Budget: AcuRite 01530M 3-in-1 Weather Station
- High precision wireless weather sensor accurately measures indoor/outdoor temperature, humidity, and wind speend
- Indoor comfort monitor, dew point, heat index with customizable alerts
- Easily upload your weather information to weather underground with a wi-fi network connection
- 12-24 hour future forecasts with daily high and lows
- Easy setup, includes sensor mounting hardware and features 2-year battery life for maintenance free operations
If you are looking for a good, budget weather station as an entryway into measuring weather data you will not go wrong with the AcuRite 01530M.
Accurate and easy to use, you will be up and running in no time with very little in the way of configuration. A perfect starter kit from a very reputable brand.
Home Weather Station Reviews
The following home weather stations have been selected based on performance, accuracy, ease of use, and price point.
Our testing method involves a combination of the above criteria, plus recent customer reviews and feedback on operational quality, as well as analysis of how each of the models fares against others on the market.
1. BEST OVERALL: Ambient Weather WS-2902A Smart WiFi Weather Station Review
Our top pick weather station for 2021 is the high quality, Ambient Weather WS-2902A.
This professional-level station will allow enthusiasts to easily monitor home and backyard weather conditions with a great degree of accuracy and data.
The “Smart” system has enhanced Wi-Fi connection ability, allowing you to transmit weather data wirelessly directly into the Weather Underground network.
Ease of use comes from the fact the system has an intuitive LCD color display while also having the ability to connect to your computer, mobile phone, or tablet with excellent support software.
This remote style monitoring allows the user to check in on the weather data no matter where you are.
The station has the ability to measure wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall, as well as important details such as outdoor temperature, humidity, solar radiation and UV.
Furthermore, humidity and barometric pressures can also be measured. Other readable data comes in the form of dew point, wind chill and heat index measurements.
Power consumption is low, (see specifications below). The reliability of the station instruments in terms of connectivity to the Smart Hub is good too.
The line of sight wireless sensor array RF transmission (in the open air): 330 feet, 100 feet under most conditions.
easy-to-read LCD color display- transmit its data wirelessly to the Weather Underground Network
- Computer, phone and tablet connectivity
- Measures wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, outdoor temperature and humidity, solar radiation, UV, humidity and barometric pressure.
- Calculates dew point, wind chill and heat index
easy-to-read LCD color display- Some users have complained about poor service support from Ambient Weather
Some users have complained about poor service support from Ambient Weather- Related Content: Best lightning detector on the market in 2021 (A review round up)
2. La Crosse Technology V22-WRTH-INT Professional Weather Station Review
The La Crosse Technology V22-WRTH-INT is another high quality weather station to make the grade in our top 5 review round up.
This fully Wi-Fi connected station is able to link up to the NWS (National Weather Service) and will provide detailed forecast information.
This includes high and low temperature ranges, precipitation, and 8 additional forecast icons providing the user with useful information on the state of the weather.
The unit can measure wind speed & rain measurements with selectable history and has a display that will clearly signify temperature and humidity.
The historical charts and custom mobile alerts can all be controlled through the easy to use Navigate La Crosse View App (this is available for Apple iOS 9.0+ or Android 5.0+ devices).
While the unit doesn’t provide the detailed measurements that can be obtained with our top pick from Ambient Weather, you can still increase the coverage of the La Crosse View weather station by adding extra sensors.
These are sold separately, however having the ability to expand the usefulness of the station as your knowledge and interest grows, is a definite advantage.
- Fully Wi-Fi connection with link up to NWS
- Easy to use app for controlling and viewing measurements and data
- Wind speed & rain measurements with selectable history
- Temperature/humidity display
- Can add components to increase features
- Some users have complained of the unintuitive control app
- Users have also noted poor connectivity and overall build quality
Bottom Line
The La Crosse Technology V22-WRTH-INT is a great little station. While it doesn’t have the level of measurements built-in that the Ambient Weather station has, this is still an easy to setup and use unit that features an intuitive app. Well worth checking out.
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3. BEST PREMIUM: Davis Instruments 6152 Vantage Pro2 Wireless Weather Station Review
Our top pick premium weather station is this hi-tech beast from Davis Instruments.
Packed with features and functions, the range of measurements this particular unit can take is extremely impressive.
Manufactured in the USA the build quality here is evident from the moment you remove the station from its packaging.
Switch it on and you’re in for a meteorological treat.
The Vantage Pro2 Display Console provides you with all the data you need at your fingertips.
- Current and historical weather data
- Sunrise & Sunset, and Moon phase (through 8 phases and accurate to ±38 minutes).
- Barometric pressure (Range 16.00″ to 32.50″ Hg in 0.01″ Hg increments, ±0.03″ Hg.)
- Outdoor Temperature (Range 40° to +150°F, updates every 10-12 seconds)
- Outdoor Relative Humidity (Range 1 to 100% RH, ±2% 1 minute updates)
- Indoor Temperature (Range of 32° to +140°F, updates every minute)
- Indoor Relative Humidity (Range 1 to 100% RH, ±3% 1 minute updates)
- Wind Speed (Range 0 to 200 mph, ±1 mph, updates every 2.5 to 3 seconds)
- Wind Direction (Range 0 – 360°, ±3°, updates every 2.5 to 3 seconds)
- Wind Chill (Range -110° to +135°F, ±2°F, updates every 10 to 12 seconds)
- Heat Index
- Rain (Resolution of 0.01”, updates every 20 to 24 seconds).
- Rate of Rainfall (Range of .04″/hr to 96″/hr, updates every 20-24 seconds)
- Dew Point (Range -105° to +130°F, ±2°F in 1° increments, updates every 10-12 seconds)
Furthermore, should the above list of measurements not be enough, it is quit possible to purchase and expand the station with additional sensors and displays.
This can transform the unit into a comprehensive agricultural monitoring system.
The 1000′ operating range of the ISS transmitter means you have a great deal of choice on where to place your instruments.
Data can also be uploaded with the optional WeatherlinkIP.
There’s also solar power storage ability so that the station will function at night.
The station is actually very well regarded in the home weather station community. As an industry leader, Davis Instruments have been creating top of the range systems for a number of years now.
- The long list of measurements that it can make (see box above)
- 1000’ operating range
- Easy to use Vantage Pro LCD display
- Solar storage and reliable battery
- This is an expandable station
- Difficult to link up to Weather Underground or other networks
4. ECOWITT HP3501 TFT Wi-Fi Weather Station with Solar Powered Wireless Anemometer Review
The ECOWITT HP3501 TFT Wi-Fi Weather Station is another unit more than worthy of a top 5 placement.
The professional system has Wi-Fi capability and is fully connectable with the Underground, Weather Cloud and WOW networks.
Featuring a fully solar-powered anemometer that station has the ability to measures wind direction, wind speed, wind gust, UV & light data. This information is then updated on your data console every 16.5 seconds.
The station has a self-emptying rain collector in order to provide real-time rainfall data, this is easy to install and will not need to be touched during normal operation.
The weather data that the unit takes is displayed via a high-resolution TFT screen, the information is available via a weather app or PC software.
As you will see by clicking the specifications tab below, this is another unit that has a long list of features and sensor functionality, for both indoor and outdoor use.
Similar to other units in our top 5 the Ecowitt can also be expanded in line with your changing demands.
The optional WH31 multi-channel thermo-hygro sensor and the WH41 PM2.5 sensor and WH51 soil moisture sensors can be added to the station in order to meet the needs of agricultural weather data collection.
- Real time weather data and graph via weather app/pc software
- High Resolution TFT Screen
- Wi-Fi Capable, wireless connection to Weather Underground/Weather Cloud/WOW
- Solar Powered Anemometer
- wind direction, wind speed, wind gust, UV & light data measurement ability with updates to 16.5 second
- Self-emptying Rain Collector
- The screen is too small at only 4.3″
Bottom Line
Overall the ECOWITT HP3501 is an extremely capable system. While not packed with as many features as the top premium pick from Davis Instruments, or as cost effective as a number one pick this year, this station still delivers in a big way.
If you end up choosing this weather station for home use, you will not be disappointed.
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5. BEST BUDGET: AcuRite 01530M 3-in-1 Weather Station Review
Our best budget pick weather station for 2021, is the affordable unit from the ever reliable AcuRite.
With a large range of weather stations currently on the market, these guys are one of the leaders in the game.
And here they do not disappoint with the budget-friendly 01530M 3-in-1.
Featuring Wi-Fi connectivity to Weather Underground, this unit can accurately measure indoor/outdoor temperatures, humidity, and current, average, and peak wind speed readings.
The indoor comfort monitor will also measure important data such as dew point and heat index and it is possible to set up customizable alerts should things reach problematic levels.
The station is able to provide 12-24 hour future forecasts with daily high and lows
The easy setup makes it great for newbies to the scene and also includes sensor mounting hardware for simple installation.
The 2-year battery life for maintenance-free operations combined with the patented Self-Calibrating technology makes this an ideal entry point for those looking to own a home weather station for the first time.
For reading the data the illuminated color display features three different lighting settings. Whether day or night, you will be able to see the important information that the unit displays.
There’s also a one-year limited warranty on the station for an extra bit of peace of mind.
- Affordable budget option weather station
- Wi-Fi with connection to Weather Underground
- Adequate list if measurement data
- Color display with optional battery backup
- 12-24 future forecast
- Wall mountable or use the fold-out tabletop stand
- Doesn’t work with the MyAcurite app
- Can be awkward to set up
Weather Station Buyer’s Guide
What is Weather Underground?
Weather Underground is what you get when you crowd share weather data and information across 250,000+ members.
Originating in 1993, the Weather Underground network has attracted meteorological enthusiasts from around the globe. Once a hobbyist purchase a weather underground compatible weather station, the local weather data that they collect can be uploaded to the network.
This information is then available to people via the website and app, allowing for real-time updates of the weather conditions in a given area.
Weather Underground is considered the “Internet’s 1st weather service”. There are countless weather underground compatible stations available today, and for those looking to collect weather data for the first time, it is an excellent community to be part of.
What to look for when buying a home weather station
A home weather station with networking capabilities to connect to the likes of Weather Underground is a sophisticated tool.
If you are in the market for buying one, you will likely have realized that the systems vary widely in terms of specifications.
There’s a unit that will simply measure a few main variables such as temperature, wind speeds, and rainfall, while others will provide data on a whole host of factors.
Knowing which weather station to buy can, therefore, be confusing.
In this guide, we have gone through some of the main issues you should be thinking about before you buy your new weather station.
So if you’re ready, let’s take a look…
Proven Accuracy
Accuracy levels can be difficult to determine before you have used a machine, however, a mixture of user reviews and manufacturer specs should give you an idea.
Some weather stations will have information on their margin of error. Clearly the higher percentage accuracy the better.
It is difficult to measure like for like between systems, however, as stations that take into account a wide range of weather variables should not be compared to units that take just simple measurements.
Essentially, you need to do your research to ensure that the system you are interested in has a proven track record in terms of accuracy.
Power Type (and consumption)
Weather stations operate wirelessly with important measuring equipment being placed outside away from the grid.
This means that they will run via battery and/or solar power.
A station that users a combination of both is what you should aim for; reliable solar power generation with battery backup should the days turn grey.
Full reliance on solar will be problematic in areas with a lack of sunshine and only battery-powered units will need recharging or changing on an all too regular basis.
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Build Quality and Durability
Considering the fact that the measuring instruments of your weather station will be positioned outside where they will face the elements, it stands to reason that everything needs to be well built.
It’s no good opting for a cheap, low-grade plastic station even if you live in a temperate climate.
Wind, rain, sunshine, and of course the cold will all take their toll. Those measuring units need to be constructed accordingly.
Again, user reviews and spec sheets will help you determine whether a particular unit will be up to the job.
Internet connectivity and Network Ability
The majority of weather stations on the market today have Wi-Fi capabilities.
This allows you to control your station remotely via software or mobile phone app. It also means that the station can feed data to and from Weather Underground and other networks.
However, it is still worth checking the power of the Wi-Fi in terms of data speed.
You should also do your research on the intuitiveness of the software/app that the system runs with.
A station with a hard to use interface could well be a deal-breaker, especially if you are just starting out.
Expandability
Another important factor when buying a weather station is expandability.
Beginner or otherwise, as your skills develop you will want to have a system that can grow with you.
The expandability of a unit will also allow a newbie to start on more budget-friendly terms.
You can buy a unit that has the measuring ability that suits your beginner status. As your needs change, you can simply add more sensors to increase the measuring capabilities of the station.
How to install a home weather station
There are a number of factors to be aware of when installing your weather station for weather underground. Let’s take a look at a few of them now.
Rain Collector Location
The location of the sensors is the most important consideration. For instance, placing rain collecting components under a tree or too close to a building, and the rainfall data measured by the station will not be accurate. It shouldn’t be on the ground either, as splashback can alter your measurements.
Essentially, Weather Underground recommends that the rain collector have at least 5 feet horizontal clearance from the nearest obstruction.
Anemometer Placement
When collecting wind readings, a narrow passageway or a section of the garden where wind can be channeled or obstructed will impair the data gathered by the anemometer.
If possible, you should try to place this sensor around 10 feet above any nearby obstructions. The roof of a building is the most common placement for the anemometer.
Temperature and Humidity Gauges
The temperature and humidity gauges need to be placed in a shaded area (and not above concrete or asphalt) about 5 or 6 feet off the ground. They also need to be out of any direct rain or snowfall and not in front of a window as heat escaping the house will affect your readings.
Also, it is important to remember that plants and bodies of water influence humidity measurements. Weather Underground recommends that you place the humidity sensor at least 50 feet away from the nearest tree or body of water.
As you can see, there are a few dos and don’ts when it comes to sensor placement, so think about these carefully.