Best Home Weather Stations of 2024

If pinpointing your local weather conditions down to the last detail is on your agenda, you’ve come to the right place. The value of owning the best home weather station extends beyond simple curiosity. These devices are indispensable tools for outdoor hobbyists, professional farmers, gardeners, and even for educational settings aimed at fostering STEM learning. Having spent a decade rigorously evaluating various models, we present a carefully selected list of the best home weather stations—each excelling in metrics such as accuracy, cost-effectiveness, durability, feature richness, and ease of use.

Modern home weather stations offer a suite of real-time information—from indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity levels to wind metrics, rainfall data, and barometric pressure readings. The good news? The majority of these devices are wireless, streamlining installation and offering you flexibility in placement, a key factor when it comes to ensuring precise data. They’re easy to maintain, and with regular tune-ups can last you for years, if not decades.

With a Wi-Fi connection, you can monitor conditions even when you’re not home and use your weather data to control smart home devices automatically. With many cheap weather stations on Amazon, you get what you pay for. Our goal is to help you get the best bang for your buck and avoid junk. Unlike many other review sites on the web, we base our reviews on actual hands-on experience with the product.

How Our Home Weather Station Reviews Are Different

Unlike many sites, we test the products we recommend or have direct experience with the company. We test select home weather stations for several weeks, giving us critical insight into long-term reliability, something a quick review cannot. For example, our Davis Vantage Vue weather station has been continuously operating since our initial test in September 2016! You can see our testing protocol here and our rating formula here.

We’ve also developed a 100-point rating system that judges each station tested on the same metrics. We judge accuracy (or performance), affordability, durability, feature set, and ease of use. These categories are weighted to emphasize accuracy and affordability, making up half of a home weather station’s score.

However, a candidate for the Best Weather Station of 2023 can’t only be a great value: it must have accurate measurements, be user-friendly, and have excellent build quality. Our review staff has years of experience using home weather stations and instruments: some are degreed meteorologists and scientists. Our writers independently research each device: we do not recommend a station simply because a manufacturer sends it to us.

Our Weather Station Buyer’s Guide has more details of each of the weather stations below.

Our Top Picks

Tempest Weather System
Editor's Choice

EXCLUSIVE: Use promo code TWSE24 to save 10% when buying directly from WeatherFlow.

KestrelMet 6000 WiFi
Pro Pick

The KestrelMet 6000 is pricey and not for everybody. But hardcore weather enthusiasts will find a lot to love.

Ambient Weather WS-2902
Budget Pick

We were surprised with how accurate the Ambient Weather WS-2902 was, given its price. We wholeheartedly recommend this to weather watchers on a budget.

TWSE participates in Amazon Associates and other affiliate programs and may earn a commission as a result of clicking on one of the above links.

Best Home Weather Stations

1
Tempest Weather System
Editor's Choice

Tempest Weather System

EXCLUSIVE: Use promo code TWSE24 to save 10% when buying directly from WeatherFlow.

WeatherFlow is a relatively recent entrant to the home weather station market, although it has years of experience. Its coastal network of stations has been delivering vital information to meteorologists for years and has proven useful (and durable) in landfalling hurricanes.

The Tempest Weather Station is WeatherFlow’s first attempt at a home weather station. For the most part, it’s a good start. It’s the only one of our stations with built-in lightning detection, one of Tempest’s standout features, and operates entirely on solar power.

We found that the real-time lightning data matched better with data from professional lightning detection networks. It regularly detected distant lightning faster than any other station we’ve tested. In addition to lightning data, the Tempest also measures indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, barometric pressure, and UV and light intensity.

Wind is measured by a sonic anemometer which we found to be fairly accurate. And up until the Ecowitt Wittboy, the Tempest was the only home weather station to use a haptic rain sensor.

What We Like
  • Super quick setup
  • Outstanding lightning detection
  • Fairly accurate instrumentation
  • Ready for the smart home
What We Didn't Like
  • The haptic rain sensor doesn’t measure rainfall accurately enough
  • No expandability
2
KestrelMet 6000 WiFi
Pro Pick

KestrelMet 6000 WiFi

The KestrelMet 6000 is pricey and not for everybody. But hardcore weather enthusiasts will find a lot to love.

At $999, the KestrelMet 6000 is not for the casual weather enthusiast. Despite this, its excellent features, such as top-tier accuracy, ease of installation, and high-quality construction, make it a worthwhile investment for hardcore weather fans.

It matches the Davis Vantage Pro2 in size and accuracy, offering even better tools to view and analyze data. However, unlike the Pro2, it doesn’t require additional hardware for internet connectivity and outperforms Davis’ Vantage Vue in terms of temperature accuracy. Even compared to the WeatherFlow Tempest, KestrelMet 6000 proves superior in all aspects except for lightning detection and UV/solar sensors, the latter of which kept this from a nearly perfect score.

Standard are indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity measurements, rainfall, wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure. Solar irradiance sensors are available as an option at the time of purchase, as well as soil moisture and leaf wetness sensors. While the hefty price tag may be daunting, for those who value accuracy and the capacity for expansion, the KestrelMet 6000 is a solid choice.

What We Like
  • Installation is easy
  • Top-tier accuracy
  • The app and web portal are easy to use
  • High-quality construction
What We Didn't Like
  • High price (although a good value)
3
Ambient Weather WS-2902
Budget Pick

Ambient Weather WS-2902

We were surprised with how accurate the Ambient Weather WS-2902 was, given its price. We wholeheartedly recommend this to weather watchers on a budget.

The Ambient Weather WS-2902 is surprisingly feature-packed and accurate, given its price. Many of the cheap home weather stations we’ve tested had issues that prevented us from genuinely recommending them. The WS-2902 does not.

The WS-2902 isn’t as accurate as the WS-5000 or Davis stations, but it’s also less than half the price. The connectivity is a standout feature at its price point, with full smart-home capabilities thanks to IFTTT, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa support. Like the WS-5000, connecting the station to AmbientWeather.net allows you to share data with Weather Underground and access station data through the app or a web-based portal.

If you can’t justify the price of other weather stations on our list, the Ambient Weather WS-2902 is the best budget model available. The LCD console in the WS-2902 is much improved over previous models. When we tested the WS-2902A, the console suffered from readability problems beyond a 30-degree angle, which is far less of a problem now.

The WS-2902 has all the features you’d expect including indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure. A nice surprise is the inclusion of a fairly accurate UV/light sensor, something you typically don’t see on home weather stations in this price range.

What We Like
  • Best value in terms of capabilities
  • Best-in-class smart home connectivity
  • Great accuracy for the price
  • Solid construction
What We Didn't Like
  • Console readings update less frequently than other models
4
Ambient Weather WS-5000
Best Expandability

Ambient Weather WS-5000

The WS-5000 is Ambient Weather's top-of-the-line weather station, and it shows. Accuracy is on par with the Davis Vantage Pro2, and smart home connectivity and a new sonic anemometer make this a top pick.

Unfortunately, rising component costs and inflation have made the Ambient Weather WS-5000 one of our list’s most expensive home weather stations. That played a part in it losing the top rank in our Best Weather Stations of 2023 rankings (it was #1 last year). But you do get quite a bit for your money.

The WS-5000 features a redesigned sensor suite, including an ultrasonic anemometer. Eliminating the cup anemometer found on other stations drastically reduces the number of moving parts and can measure wind speed as accurately as the cup-and-vane. This should extend its useable life as the traditional anemometer requires ongoing maintenance to ensure trouble-free use.

The WS-5000’s sensors were much more accurate in our tests than the WS-2000, WS-2902, and WS-1900A, which use a slightly lower-quality sensor suite. Thanks to expandability and a wide array of optional sensors, you can add just about any sensor you can think of, including air quality, soil moisture, water temperature, and lightning, all of which send data to the console in as little as every five seconds.

The company’s made it easy to share your data publicly through Weather Underground. Its smart home connectivity is best in class, offering IFTTT compatibility to connect your station to your smart home system. Of course, there’s Ambient Weather Network and the Ambient Weather app to view your weather data remotely on your mobile device or through the web app.

If you’re looking for a step up from the WS-2902, with accuracy that rivals any Davis station, the WS-5000 is the weather station for you. The price, however, might scare some away. If you can do without the console, a version of the WS-5000 with app access to your data is available.

What We Like
  • Great full-color console
  • An impressive list of optional sensors
  • Smart home connectivity
  • Improved barometer and rainfall accuracy (from WS-2902 series)
What We Didn't Like
  • Cumbersome console setup
  • Some sensors had to be reset to connect to console
5
Davis Instruments Vantage Vue
Best Mid-Grade Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Vue

The WeatherLink Console makes the Davis Vantage Vue a modern weather station but also increases the price.

The Davis Vantage Vue got a much-needed update when the WeatherLink Console debuted earlier this year. It’s the successor to the WeatherLink Live hub and changed how you interact with your station for the better. It’s built on Android and appears to be upgradeable, so you’re no longer stuck in the past with dated hardware.

The reliability of Davis is legendary in the weather enthusiast community. I’ve had my Vantage Vue continuously since September 2016, and I know others who have had theirs for over a decade. There is also the story of a gentleman with a Davis Weather Monitor II (a predecessor to the Vue) who recently upgraded after 27 years (that’s not a typo).

While you don’t get the unbeatable accuracy of the high-end Davis Vantage Pro 2, my experience has been positive. With the WeatherLink Console, sharing your data is super easy. While on your home network, you can watch live conditions (updated every two seconds), and your data is uploaded to Davis’ platform once per minute.

If there’s one thing I’d ding the Vantage Vue for, it’s its lack of upgradeability. Sure, you get all the basics, but the only optional sensor you can add is the Davis AirLink, and right now, that’s only if you have a WeatherLink Live (there’s no support for the WeatherLink Console, at least for now).

What We Like
  • Accuracy is nearly on par with the Vantage Pro2
  • Extremely reliable
  • Well-constructed and durable
  • The WeatherFlow Console makes it even better
What We Didn't Like
  • A 5-in-1 sensor isn't the best for accurate readings
  • You pay a premium for the name
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Also Consider

Ambient Weather WS-2000
Ambient Weather WS-2000
Ambient Weather WS-2000
Our Score

The Ambient Weather WS-2000 is a combination of two weather stations. The sensor array from the WS-2902 is combined with the TFT LCD console from the WS-5000, allowing for a cheaper alternative to the now $449 (MSRP) WS-5000. While this combination comes at the cost of accuracy, it adds some important functionality over the budget-minded WS-2902.

With Ambient Weather internet-connected stations, the communications are handled by the console. The cheaper color LCD console in the WS-2902 package only supports the sensor suite. However, the TFT LCD console supports any accessory sensor Ambient Weather makes. It’s not like the sensor suite is that inaccurate either: as we noted in our review, readings were often not far from our Davis Vantage Vue.

We’d opt for the WS-5000, as the sensor accuracy is better and requires little maintenance. But we’d understand why somebody would go for the WS-2000, given its much lower price.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2
Our Score

The Davis Vantage Pro2 is one of the best high-end home weather stations you can buy and is made even better by WeatherLink Live or the WeatherLink Console. The Vantage Pro2 is a proven workhorse. Several years ago in the Caribbean, a VantagePro 2 recorded a 199mph wind gust in a hurricane before its mast snapped. That’s the highest wind reading ever recorded on a personal weather station!

So why is the Vantage Pro2 more accurate? The sensors in the Vantage Pro2 are of higher quality than in the Vantage Vue. A larger rain gauge collects rain more efficiently, especially in windy situations. The radiation shielding around the temperature and humidity sensor is larger, allowing for better airflow.

Another difference between the VantagePro 2 and the Vantage Vue is the anemometer. Since it’s separate from the rest of the sensor suite, you can place it in a high location to improve your wind readings.

While it takes a bit more time to set up, no other weather station on the market even comes close if you want the most accurate weather data. As a side note, there is also a bundle that includes the console. While the Vantage Pro2’s console is much more helpful than the Vantage Vue’s, it does add to the price. Whether you need it is up to you.

Depending on the model you select, you may also have UV and Light Sensors (standard on the Pro2 Plus), and fan aspiration, which we strongly recommend if you’re very concerned about accuracy. Further optional sensors include soil moisture and leaf wetness sensors, and air quality measurements via AirLink.

Compare Our Top Picks

Tempest Weather System
Davis Instruments Vantage Vue
Ambient Weather WS-2902
KestrelMet 6000 WiFi
Ambient Weather WS-5000
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2
Product Title
Product Title
Tempest Weather System
Davis Instruments Vantage Vue
Ambient Weather WS-2902
KestrelMet 6000 WiFi
Ambient Weather WS-5000
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2
Power
Power
Solar
Solar, CR123 battery
No
Solar
Solar
Solar, CR123 battery
Console
Console
No
Yes
Yes, LCD
No
Yes, TFT
Yes, TFT
Connectivity
Connectivity
Wi-Fi
900mHz to console, Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
900mHz to console, Wi-Fi
Smart Home Ready
Smart Home Ready
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Anemometer Type
Anemometer Type
Sonic
Cup and Vane
Cup and Vane
Propeller
Sonic
Cup and Vane
Rain Gauge Type
Rain Gauge Type
Haptic
Tipping Bucket
Tipping Bucket
Tipping Bucket
Tipping Bucket
Tipping Bucket
Expandability
Expandability
No
No*
No*
Yes
Yes
Yes
Range
Range
1,000 feet
1,000 feet
330 feet
1,000 feet
1,000 ft (330 ft for rain gauge)
1,000 feet

Other Manufacturers

We tested 12 stations for our Best Weather Station of 2023 rankings. While only six made it above, a few other stations scored well. AcuRite is probably the most well-known brand in this group.

The best of these stations is the AcuRite Atlas. However, the AcuRite Iris is also a decent low-cost home station. Another popular model is the Netatmo Weather Station. While it was great for the smart home when it was first released over a half-decade ago, the Netatmo feels dated today, especially when you can get something like the WeatherFlow Tempest for about the same price.

Another manufacturer is La Crosse Technology. We’ve had a few La Crosse devices with generally good results. However, none of their stations made our Best Weather Station of 2023 rankings.

Weather Station Maintenance and Installation Tips

We recommend that you perform maintenance at least once per season. This is especially important in the fall and winter, as those are the hardest months on your equipment. Depending on weather conditions and the surrounding environment, some may need to perform maintenance as frequently as every month. You’d be surprised how quickly weather stations get dirty; this build-up causes your readings to be inaccurate.

We’ve written an entire post on this subject, breaking it into manageable steps and telling you exactly what you need to do the job right the first time.

Placing Your Sensors Correctly

There are standards for weather observations. Using the National Weather Service’s Cooperative Weather Observer Program (CWOP) standards is an excellent place to start. We have more tips available in our installation and siting guide.

Temperature is measured in the shade. But generally, you should place your temperature/humidity sensor at eye level (4′ to 6′ off the ground) and protect it from direct sunlight. Your rain gauge should also be at the same level to prevent splashback and be free of any obstructions.

Place your anemometer at least 10 feet above your roofline for the most accurate readings.

Logo of The Weather Station Experts

Why you can trust our recommendations

We have experience with all the products and companies we recommend here on TWSE. Our review staff includes degreed meteorologists and scientists, some of whom have owned the products they review for several years. Our staff has reviewed home weather gadgets for over a decade both on TWSE and elsewhere.

How we test

A weather station or gadget must score highly in our scoring metrics in several key areas, including accuracy, value, durability, ease of use, and feature set. We accept products for review, but we do not accept compensation in exchange for a positive review.

Affiliate Disclosure

The Weather Station Experts participates in affiliate programs including Amazon Associates. We may receive a commission from clicking links on our site.