Weather is one of our big obsessions here at Mashable (just take a look at our Science page if you don’t believe us). We’ve covered everything from incoming tornadoes in the midwest that contribute to climate change to our favorite cloud types (seriously). We even coined the phrase “bomb cyclone” to describe the storm that brought some epic snowfall back in January. Yup, we love the weather as much as we do Marvel movies and iPhones.
If you’re as obsessed with forecasts and weather warnings as we are, then a weather station should be high up on your shopping list. (Or if you know someone who loves all things weather and science, then a weather station could make a great gift for them.)
If, however, you’re new to the weather geek kingdom, allow us to bring you into the fold. Weather stations are devices that can collect weather data from the immediate environment using a variety of sensors. From a thermometer for temperature to barometers for atmospheric pressure and plenty of other features in-between, these geeky gadgets can basically tell you everything you need to know about the weather whenever you need it.
You can typically read its various points of data on an LED display that comes paired with the station itself. Some can even connect to the internet or your computer so you can analyze your data using legit weather station software. And in this smartphone-driven age, you can even see the weather data on your favorite handheld devices.
Despite its many functions, the average weather station doesn’t take up that much space. Some are rooftop devices that are about the size of weather vanes, while some can be about the size of a remote control and stick to the the outside of your house.
We’ve only covered the basics of what a weather station can do, but different models can do so much more thanks to a little thing called technology. To that end, we’ve hunted down some of the most highly-rated weather stations on Amazon so you weather geeks out there can talk shop and weather-watch with confidence.
These are the weather stations worth your wallet:
Classic design, modern convenience.
You can read the data from this Ambient Weather rooftop device on the LCD color display, so you can get accurate numbers to plan your day. You can also read the data on your smart device, and it’s even compatible with Alexa, so you can ask Amazon’s digital assistant for a detailed weather report at any given moment. Sure beats scrolling through a weather app.
More than 76% of users have given this model 5 stars, with user Djhester saying:
I wanted to upgrade to one that was wireless and easily connects to the internet. I called Ambient Weather and they recommended this unit but I had to wait for it to come into stock. It is PERFECT for my needs. I am very happy with it!
We’ve seen it listed as low as $160, plus shipping.
If you think the Netatmo looks fancy, that’s because it is.
Sleek and functional, the Netatmo weather station has earned the Amazon’s Choice seal of approval. It includes an indoor and an outdoor sensor, which both offer real-time smartphone notifications on weather status. It even gives you ventilation alerts to remind you to air out the house. Plus, it wouldn’t be Amazon-approved without Alexa compatibility.
Cody K‘s 5-star review of the Netatmo weather station says:
I would recommend this for someone who wants an easy, set and forget way to keep tabs on basic conditions. Perfect to keep watch on a vacation house, or as a gift for someone with an interest in weather.
We’ve seen the Netatmo on sale for as low as $136.99
The La Crosse weather station uses big, bright displays so you can see key info at a glance.
Image: la crosse technology
This weather station by La Crosse Technology doesn’t feature a giant spaceship-looking contraption, but does come with a sensor to install on the outside of your house for weather readings. The the LCD screen inside to get real-time readouts, which are easy to read at-a-glance thanks to the big, bright display. The station will track everything you’d expect — humidity levels, temperature, and the upcoming forecast — and will also reset its own time at daylight savings.
More than 60% of users have given this station a 5-star rating, with Amazon user ViperGeek calling the unit “gorgeous and easy to view and understand.”
Pick one up for only about $40.
Accurate, Alexa-compatible, and smartphone-friendly — this weather station is also an Amazon’s Choice product. With the AcuRite station, you can set custom alerts and receive notifications on weather conditions. You can even connect it with up to seven different compatible AcuRite devices so that everyone in the house can stay up to date, weather-wise.
Eric M. on Amazon says:
I like that I can easily see the weather at my house from work or anywhere. Once the app is installed on your phone, it takes just a couple seconds to load the weather data, so it’s fairly convenient.
Pastel colors help make the DIGOO weather station super friendly looking.
This station from DIGOO is like the Swiss army knife of weather stations. Not only does it provide in-depth data on weather — including temperature, humidity, and wind pressure — but it also acts as a calendar and an alarm clock to keep you up to date and awake. It also uses a colorful screen to display current weather conditions with real-time updates.
Mike on Amazon says:
Being stuck inside all day, it’s nice to know what’s going on outside. The numbers are large and clear, easy to read. Instructions were simple to follow also.
Get it for less than $50.
The HD screen interface for this weather station by AcuRite lets you toggle through several different screens for accurate weather readings. It can even store up to one year of weekly high and low temperatures for your data-reading purposes. Personalize your notifications on differing weather conditions too, so you’re always prepared for whatever Mother Nation throws your way.
Many reviewers comment on how bright the display is (and that the “dim” setting is still pretty bright), making it easy to see data from across the room.
Amazon reviewer Timothy Smith had this to say:
This is my second weather station. I had an Ambient for several years. Worked great but the display on it sucked. Decided to give AcuRite a try. I’ve had this item up and running for three weeks, and added the PC controller the second week. I love the upgraded display. I like being able to walk downstairs and look at the display from any direction and see what is going on outside. I had no idea how much I loved this item till I didn’t have one. The only negative was that it didn’t connect to my PC/Internet until I bought the $70 addon. That isn’t AcuRite’s fault because it doesn’t say anything about working with a PC on it; so that is on me. Now that I am on Weather Underground I see a lot of AcuRite 5 in 1’s in the area. Very popular in my area.
We’ve seen it listed as low as $129.99.
If you’re someone who wants ALL OF THE INFO, then this station is for you. Seriously. You’ll have so much weather data at the ready that you could basically step in for Al Roker if you needed to. The solar-powered outdoor sensor keeps track of outdoor temperature, humidity, dew point, rainfall rate, wind speed, wind direction, UV and solar radiation info — and that’s not all of it. You’ll also be able to check out neat graphs that track historical data so you can compare notes over time. It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, which means you have it tell you what the weather was on a specific day, or have the AI of your choice read the current conditions.
Some 68% of Amazon users have 5-starred this weather station, including NightThumper, who wrote:
After pouring through hundreds of reviews and having owned a lower end ambient weather station which after four years is still going strong I decided on this model. I encountered no issues in installation or connecting to Wuderweather. I went with the WiFi version because I wanted NIST time/date updates. Several reviewers have mentioned losing Wifi connectivity when they turn their computers off at night. This is not a problem if your modem has Wifi and you leave it turned on. I occasionally turn off my computer at night and only occasionally reboot my modem.
Installation and connecting to both the Internet and Wunderweather was a breeze. The unit came with 2.2.9 firmware installed. Location for your installation means everything for accuracy. However compromises sometimes have to be made. My ideal location was where I previously had installed a UHF/VHF antenna. However accessing the 5 in 1 outdoor unit would require using a 32 foot extension ladder which isn’t practical. Having access is important to clean the rain bowl, in the unlikely event you get a defective unit that craps out in the first couple of months that needs replacing or general inspection etc.
This rooftop weather device offers the same great weather service as other models in the AcuRite family, but with a smaller design. The indoor display can record daily, monthly, and all-time highs and lows and can display a history chart for any field of data. The screen display is illuminated and displays tons of weather information over the last 12 hours.
More than 60% of Amazon users have given this station 5 stars. Ziggy on Amazon says it’s easy to install.
I didn’t have to even read the instructions to set it up. It’s very intuitive, just put the batteries in both parts and the color display showed the information within a minute.
We’ve seen it listed as low as $85.91 with free shipping.
Image: La crosse Technology
The display for this weather station is simple, matte, and still as effective as the fancier types — but at a more moderate price point. You can set customizable rain alerts and the station itself is supposedly made from durable plastic that can withstand moderate light and rain exposure. It also features rainfall alerts and precipitation alarms, so you can make sure that you’re keeping dry on those unpredictable showers.
Darrell Fichtl on Amazon says:
I’ve had either a weather station or a rain gauge all of my adult life and I’m 83 years old. This is the best weather instrument I’ve ever purchased.
Well, we can’t really argue with that. Buy it now for $30.82.
This weather station offers plenty of bang for its buck, with a glow-in-the-dark keypad and real time updates every 2.5 seconds. It even factors in moon phases and sun movements in its readings. While the rooftop apparatus has lots of bells and whistles, the indoor display is definitely no fuss.
Amazon reviewers seem to love it though — 72% of customers rated this weather station with 5 stars. Despite its hefty price, Jeffrey D. Hickey still found plenty of value to make up for it.
While I have only had this a few days, it is clear the bar has been raised on home weather stations. It certainly costs more than the glut of other home units, but this is a case of getting what you pay for.
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