Which La Crosse Weather Station Should I Buy?

We break down La Crosse's expansive product lineup, and pick the best buys

By Ed Oswald

Published:

Reading time: 4 minutes

We’ve noticed increasing interest in weather stations from La Crosse Technology from our readers, and from time to time have had questions on various La Crosse weather station models. It’s not surprising: their stations are inexpensive and readily available, not only from Amazon but from brick-and-mortar stores.

What is the best La Crosse weather station to buy? We’ve laid out our picks below. We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments if you own one! Let’s get started.

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

In this article:

Get more content just like this delivered directly to your device:

The Weather Station Experts’ content is supported by online advertisements.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

Top Rated La Crosse Stations

  • Description:
    • Measures indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity
    • Atomic clock
    • Monitors and alerts to mold risk
  • $65.99$50.59
  • Description:
    • Measures temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and rainfall
    • Illuminated color weather display with auto-dimming
    • Dynamic, seasonally appropriate forecast icons
    • Connect to Wi-Fi for additional features
    • Expandable using other La Crosse sensors
  • $189.99
  • Description:
    • Monitors temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and rainfall
    • Dynamic color weather forecast icons


  • $126.15
  • Description:
    • Measures temperature, humidity, and wind speed (no rainfall)
    • Built-in WI-Fi
    • Dynamic forecast icons with tendency indicators


  • $133.95$98.09
  • Description:
    • Measures indoor and outdoor humidity with comfort level indicators, dew point, heat index
    • Atomic clock
    • Forecast
  • $77.95$49.98
  • Description:
    • Self-emptying rain bucket (draining vents via internal tilting cups)
    • Rainfall readings: Current, 1hr, 24hr, 7 Days, Month, Year and Total
    • Icon indicates days with or without rainfall
    • Time and indoor/outdoor temperature and humidity
  • $69.95$46.73
Description:
  • Measures indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity
  • Atomic clock
  • Monitors and alerts to mold risk
$65.99$50.59
Description:
  • Measures temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and rainfall
  • Illuminated color weather display with auto-dimming
  • Dynamic, seasonally appropriate forecast icons
  • Connect to Wi-Fi for additional features
  • Expandable using other La Crosse sensors
$189.99
Description:
  • Monitors temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and rainfall
  • Dynamic color weather forecast icons


$126.15
Description:
  • Measures temperature, humidity, and wind speed (no rainfall)
  • Built-in WI-Fi
  • Dynamic forecast icons with tendency indicators


$133.95$98.09
Description:
  • Measures indoor and outdoor humidity with comfort level indicators, dew point, heat index
  • Atomic clock
  • Forecast
$77.95$49.98
Description:
  • Self-emptying rain bucket (draining vents via internal tilting cups)
  • Rainfall readings: Current, 1hr, 24hr, 7 Days, Month, Year and Total
  • Icon indicates days with or without rainfall
  • Time and indoor/outdoor temperature and humidity
$69.95$46.73
09/30/2023 11:44 pm GMT

La Crosse Technology Company Profile

La Crosse was founded in 1983 by its owner and current president, Allen McCormick, who traveled nationally with his mobile showroom of products. The company’s first devices were clocks, but the company has since expanded internationally with weather data, atomic time, and other home devices. The company’s main headquarters, sales, and distribution remain in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the company’s namesake.

Two interesting facts about La Crosse: it was the first to introduce radio-controlled clocks to the US market (1991), and in 2008, it sold the first internet-connected weather station.

The company’s full story can be found here.

La Crosse FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions from our readers about La Crosse weather stations.

Are La Crosse weather stations accurate?

La Crosse stations are best used for general-purpose weather observation, where accuracy may not be as important. The sensors used in these weather stations aren’t as high quality as other stations from Davis or even Ambient Weather, which means your measurements might not be as accurate. However, La Crosse stations are some of the most affordable on the market, and some models have helpful features not found on other brands, like mold alerts.

Where are La Crosse weather stations made?

La Crosse’s sales, distribution, and customer service staff are all in La Crosse, Wisconsin. However, the weather stations themselves are manufactured in China.

How do I set up my La Crosse wireless weather station?

The exact instructions to set up your station vary by model. We have a page full of weather station manuals, including some La Crosse stations.

La Crosse Reviews

Top Pick - Indoor Outdoor Thermometers
La Crosse Technology C85845-INT Weather Station, Black
$77.95 $49.98
  • Measures indoor and outdoor humidity with comfort level indicators, dew point, heat index
  • Atomic clock
  • Forecast
Dimensions: 8.98 x 1.00 x 5.43 inches
Weight: 12.8 ounces
Power Supply: AC (2 'AA' for sensor)
Battery Life: 6-12 months
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/30/2023 11:49 pm GMT

Calling the La Crosse Technology C85845-INT a “weather station” is generous since it only measures indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity. We’ve been quite happy with ours, providing a quick way to see what’s happening outside. A radio-controlled (“atomic”) clock is included, and the forecast icons change with the seasons.

There’s even some rudimentary internet control through the La Crosse app, although the app itself is pretty basic. But you can’t go wrong with the price, often below $60 USD during sales.

La Crosse V40A-PRO-INT Wi-Fi Professional Weather Center
$189.99
  • Measures temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and rainfall
  • Illuminated color weather display with auto-dimming
  • Dynamic, seasonally appropriate forecast icons
  • Connect to Wi-Fi for additional features
  • Expandable using other La Crosse sensors
Buy Now from Amazon Check Other Stores
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
10/01/2023 12:25 am GMT

The La Crosse V40A-PRO-INT is a fully-featured weather station, unlike the C85845-INT. In addition to indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, the V40A-PRO-INT measures wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall. It’s expandable using other La Crosse sensors and is Wi-Fi connected. It also has forecast icons that change with the seasons, which we’ve always found to be a cool feature of the company’s weather stations.

At this price, we’d recommend the Ambient Weather WS-2902 if it’s cheaper. But occasionally, this model is on sale for a substantial discount, making it an attractive option for those on a budget.

La Crosse V21-WTH Wireless Wi-Fi Weather Station
$133.95 $98.09
  • Measures temperature, humidity, and wind speed (no rainfall)
  • Built-in WI-Fi
  • Dynamic forecast icons with tendency indicators


Buy Now from Amazon Check Other Stores
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
10/01/2023 12:35 am GMT

The La Crosse V21-WTH is a good option if you’re short on space. Much like the AcuRite Notos, it mounts to the top of a mast and measures temperature, humidity, wind speed, and direction. However, one thing it has that the Notos does not have is internet connectivity. If you like the Notos but want to be still able to monitor your backyard weather remotely, the V21-WTH is an excellent alternative.

La Crosse 308-1414MB-INT Weather Station with Mold Indicator
$65.99 $50.59
  • Measures indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity
  • Atomic clock
  • Monitors and alerts to mold risk
Buy Now from Amazon Check Other Stores
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/30/2023 11:44 pm GMT

If you live in a damp home, you’re probably all too familiar with mold. It thrives in cool and humid environments, so it’s crucial to monitor the temperature and humidity in spots in your home where mold is most likely to grow. The La Crosse 308-1414MB-INT monitors these conditions and will sound an alert if it believes there is a high risk of mold growth.

Otherwise, the feature set is similar to the C85845-INT, our top pick. If you don’t have mold issues, that might be the better option (the good news is they’re often priced about the same on Amazon if you don’t know which one to choose!).

La Crosse 328-10618-INT Wireless WiFi Professional Weather Center
$126.15
  • Monitors temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and rainfall
  • Dynamic color weather forecast icons


Buy Now from Amazon Buy Now from The Home Depot
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
10/01/2023 12:30 am GMT

The La Crosse 328-10618-INT is very similar to the V21-WTH, however, with a rain gauge allowing you to work better with tight spaces. We also like that it’s internet-connected and expandable — and not badly priced, either!

La Crosse 724-1415BL Wireless Rain Station with Temperature and Humidity
$69.95 $46.73
  • Self-emptying rain bucket (draining vents via internal tilting cups)
  • Rainfall readings: Current, 1hr, 24hr, 7 Days, Month, Year and Total
  • Icon indicates days with or without rainfall
  • Time and indoor/outdoor temperature and humidity
Buy Now from Amazon Check Other Stores
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
10/01/2023 12:59 am GMT

Finally, a digital rain gauge is the perfect option if you don’t need a full-blown weather station but need to monitor rainfall (gardeners, we’re looking at you). The La Crosse 724-1415BL is a wireless rain gauge that also monitors indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity as a bonus. This gauge tracks rainfall readings from the past hour, day, week, month, and year, and an icon tells you how many days it’s been since it last rained (or how long it’s been raining).

This model has no internet connectivity, which is a shame. However, it’s not badly priced for a digital rain gauge, and reviews are generally positive.

For Better Accuracy and Performance

La Crosse manufactures many cheap weather stations with varying degrees of quality. The average person or casual weather observer will be happy with the performance. However, if you’re a weather enthusiast looking for better accuracy, we recommend considering other manufacturers first. See our list of preferred brands, which you can find by clicking Buyers Guides in the menu above.

Any questions? Feel free to ask them in the comments below!

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

About the Author

Ed Oswald

Ed Oswald has nearly two decades of experience in technology and science journalism, and specializes in weather stations and smart home technology. He's written for Digital Trends, PC World, and TechHive. His work has also appeared in the New York Times. When he isn't writing about gadgets, he enjoys chasing severe weather and winter storms.