Wessel Wessels

Author Archives: Wessel Wessels

Lifelong weather enthusiast and researcher. Interested in all things weather-related, and how global climate and local weather interact. Owner of multiple home weather stations for almost two decades, but still learning and expanding his knowledge base every day. He is dedicated to sharing his expertise and knowledge to get more people involved and interested in both their local and global weather and how it interacts with climate on a worldwide scale. Love sharing my knowledge on home weather stations, how they work, and the many ways you can use them to your advantage. All in all, he is just a bit of weather nerd.

Defining A Tornado, How It Is Formed, And Its Main Characteristics

What Is A Tornado Heading

Some readers will never see one, while others experience multiple events in a single year. But most will be very familiar with what a tornado is. We take a closer look at this meteorological phenomenon.

Not only are they famous (or rather infamous) for their dramatic appearance and destructive power, but they have also been made more famous and "glorified" by Hollywood in more than a few of their "disaster movies."

What Is A Tornado?

A tornado is defined as a funnel-shaped, fast-rotating column of air that forms at the base of a storm cloud and extends to the ground. It is characterized by a strong low-pressure center surrounded by rotating high-velocities winds. It typically forms in a supercell with strong up- and downdrafts.

Although they can occur anywhere across the world, the central plains of the United States experience an unusually high concentration of tornadoes every year in a region commonly known as Tornado Alley.

This article examines what exactly a tornado is and how it forms. It also looks at its characteristics and where it typically occurs.  

How A Tornado Is Formed

The majority of tornadoes are formed in violent thunderstorms, especially in what is called supercells. (The most intense and violent form of a thunderstorm.)

The conditions in a supercell need to be ideal in order for a tornado to develop. This means a tornado needs a supercell to develop, but not all supercells can produce tornadoes.

The specific conditions needed for the formation of a tornado is actually a specific combination of wind movements. A combination of both downdrafts (sinking air) and updrafts (rising air) is required for tornado development.

Tornado Formation

The illustration above shows you the complex interaction between cloud formation, wind speeds, and direction, as well as altitude that takes place during the formation of a tornado in a supercell.

Warm moist air near the surface of the ground starts to rise, creating a low-pressure system. As it continues to rise, it is hit by winds with different speeds and blowing in different directions. It is these winds that allow it to start spinning.

This alone is not enough, though. Air rotation near the ground is essential for the process to be completed. As the cold air from the upper atmosphere starts to descend (creating downdrafts), it comes in contact with the updraft, putting pressure on the rising air.

This pressure and friction caused by the downdraft force the space of the rotating updraft to be condensed. This increases the wind speed within the rotating column of air. 

The wind speed is further increased by the rotation towards the axis of the low-pressure system. (Remember, air always flows from an area of high to an area of low pressure)

This acceleration in wind speed towards the axis is called conservation of angular momentum (or spin). This is similar to a figure skater starting to spin on ice. As he/she starts pulling their arms in, they start rotating faster and faster (to conserve angular movement)

The supercell starts acting like a giant vacuum cleaner as the rotating column of air strengthens and sucks more air away from the surface of the ground.

If the combination of "downdraft pressure" and "updraft suction" is strong enough, the column of rotating air will reach the ground, which will complete the formation of the tornado.

As it touches the ground, debris and dirt sucked up by the tornado will form the visible funnel formation we all know so well. (Tornadoes can actually be invisible, but more on that in the next section).

Now that one have a better understanding of how tornadoes are formed, it is easier to understand why certain areas are so prone to the development of tornadoes. 

And this is why the area known as Tornado Alley is such an ideal breeding ground for tornadoes. As the cold, dry air from Canada moves south, it collides with the warm moist air from the Golf Of Mexico over this region.

Here, the Great Plains further contribute to creating this ideal environment, as the relatively flat landscape allows these two air masses to collide and form supercells. The resulting thunderstorms and unstable atmosphere is the perfect recipe for tornadoes to develop.

Characteristics Of A Tornado

Many readers, especially from the Central United States, will already be very familiar with the characteristics of a tornado, especially its almost unmistakable shape.

A tornado is characterized by the very recognizable funnel-shaped fast rotating column of air, with its narrow base touching the ground and then broadening out as it reaches up to the cloud base of typically a cumulonimbus cloud.

Not all tornadoes conform to this familiar image we are so familiar with. There are also a few characteristics of tornadoes that are not that well-known but still very relevant and important to those potentially affected. We take a look at a few of the most important ones:

1) Tornadoes Are Not Always Visible. 

Since a tornado is essentially a fast rotating column of wind, they are not naturally visible by themselves. What makes them visible is the objects on the ground they cross and pick up. 

Water-Sprout

I already mentioned dust and debris are some of the common objects that are sucked up and give them their familiar grey-brown color. Other objects include vegetation and even water. In the latter case. (As mentioned earlier, when a tornado originates over water, it is referred to as water-sprout.)

A big danger and concern for meteorologists occur as the result of a tornado not being visible, or objects or the terrain masks its visibility. In a heavily wooded region with large trees, for example, it is tough to spot and identify an approaching tornado.

Two other factors that can completely mask a tornado is heavy rain and the cover of darkness. When a tornado occurs during heavy rainfall, the rain-wrapped funnel can be completely invisible until it is too late.

Also, if a tornado occurs at night, you may literally be unaware of it until it is right upon you. Although it makes a loud noise that many people have compared to freight trains or airplanes taking off,  it may be masked if it occurs during a heavy thunderstorm.

These are one of many reasons early warning systems should be in place in areas often affected by tornadoes and why people should always heed these warnings. (Luckily, the accuracy of early warning systems has been greatly improved over the last few decades.)

2) The Unpredicted Path Of A Tornado

People, even experienced observers, still look at an approaching tornado and the path it is following, to make a judgment call to flee/take shelter or stay putt. This is a terrible mistake.

One of the most dangerous aspects of a tornado is the unpredictability of the path it is following. There is a common perception that a tornado follows the path of the storm system it travels in, or that the majority of tornadoes moves from southwest to northeast.

Although there is some truth in these perceptions, tornadoes can veer off-course or completely change direction within the larger storm system without any warning. (Some have even been known to stop and double back on their path.)

Apart from the unpredictable path an established tornado follows, they also have the ability to suddenly appear from literally any direction. Observers have reported tornadoes appearing out of nowhere.

In this case, ideal conditions for the creation of a tornado have been building up, invisible to most observers. Once these conditions have intensified enough, a tornado can literally form and seemingly "appear out of nowhere."  

3) Speed And Size Of A Tornado

Tornadoes literally come in all shapes and sizes. (And don't forget about color, depending on the surface it covers and types of debris it picks up.)

In general, the average tornado is about 200 meters (660 feet) wide, with wind speeds of about 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour. As far as distance goes, they very seldom travel further than 10 kilometers (6 miles). 

Big Tornado

These are averages, however. Some tornadoes are so small and weak, they are almost unnoticeable. On the other side of the spectrum, some tornadoes are so big and destructive that they have the capability to destroy entire towns.

The most destructive ones can reach wind speeds of up to 300 miles (480 kilometers) per hour and be more than 3 kilometers (2 miles) in diameter.

An example of an extreme tornado that makes your "average tornado" look like a little breeze is the Tri-State tornado of 1925, mentioned earlier in this post. It traveled continuously through parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana for a distance of approximately 362 kilometers (219 miles).

4) Funnel Clouds Creating False Assumptions About Tornadoes

Funnel clouds are a clear indication of the presence of a tornado. Many observers mistakenly use the size of the funnel cloud to try and determine its strength and size.

This is another easy mistake to make, as the funnel cloud is very often not an accurate indicator of size and strength.

In many cases, a hurricane's true size is much larger than the funnel cloud would suggest. In recent history, a tornado near Dodge City in Kansas, was observed with the actual width of the tornado being 3 times larger than the funnel cloud.

Similarly, the size of a tornado is not an indicator of its strength. In fact, a very narrow tornado only a few dozen feet wide can be much stronger and more destructive than one more than a mile wide.

The best way to measure the true impact of a tornado is by using proven standardized scales. The strength of a tornado is normally measured by the Fujita scale. The tornado strength is categorized from EF0 to EF5. 

(With EF0 indicating light damage to vegetation and no structural damage, and EF5 indicating the strongest form of a tornado, which has the ability to rip buildings off their foundation and cause major structural damage to skyscrapers.)

Where Do Tornadoes Occur?

Tornadoes can occur all across the world, especially in the presence of thunderstorms (which create the ideal conditions for the formation of tornadoes).

The highest concentration of tornadoes, however, can be found in North America, especially in Florida and an area called Tornado Alley.

("Tornado Alley" is a broad term coined by the media, and the region can be found in the Great Plains of the Central United States. It is not an official scientific term & meteorologists have not clearly defined the area, but the highest concentration of tornadoes occur here.)

Outside of North America, two of the highest concentrations of tornadoes can be found in Argentina and Bangladesh.

Conclusion

This article provided a clear description of how tornadoes are formed, what makes them work, as well as their most important characteristics. In the process, some misconceptions, dangers, and myths were highlighted. 

It also clearly highlighted the destructive nature and dangers of these meteorological phenomena and focused on their impact on all the areas they encounter.  

Never miss out again when another interesting and helpful article is released and stay updated, while also receiving helpful tips & information by simply  following this link .

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

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13 Surefire Ways To Make Sure Your Home Weather Station Fails And A Few Related Weather Misconceptions

13 Surefire Ways To Sabotage Your Weather Station

When setting up your home weather station, especially more advanced systems with an array of outdoor sensors, it can become very confusing to find the right location to place your various outdoor sensors (or where NOT to place them) to get the most accurate and consistent readings...

Similarly, when we watch weather forecasts on television, online, or on an app on your mobile device, we are bombarded by different terminologies associated with certain weather conditions. This can often lead us to form misconceptions about the weather that may lead us to make wrong conclusions and take the wrong actions as a result.

If this statement sounds a bit confusing, don't worry. It will become clear very quickly through the course of this article.

To make things interesting and help you get a better understanding of how things should or should not be done or perceived, I am taking a slightly different approach.

Instead of showing you what to do when it comes to installing your home weather station or how to correctly perceive some weather terminologies and phrases, I am going to the direct opposite. I am going to highlight the worst possible decision or deduction you can make in each case and then explain to you exactly why.

Why Choose This Approach And Why These Two Seemingly Unrelated Topics?

So Why Do I Use Such A Seemingly Ineffective Approach?  

This is a very fair and legitimate question to ask.  Why don't I just tell you what steps to follow to set up your outdoor weather sensors correctly? (By the way, I do just that in this article if you are interested.)

And why don't I just point out the correct way to interpret all the weather terminologies and lingo used in weather forecasts, as well as what else to keep in mind?

The answer lies in 2 simple reasons...

a) We Don't like To Be Told What To Do!

Do not like to be told what to do

It's just human nature and that little rebellious part we all have. Maybe it's from being told what to do from a young age by our parents and school teachers, which, to be honest, we hated most of the time.

As adults, our managers/supervisors continue this trend by telling us how and when to do our jobs. The last thing we want is a set of instructions telling us to do something to get a required result.   

b) Sometimes We Only Really Learn After Making A Mistake...

Yes, most of the time, we know or accept what to do. (And sometimes we don't have a clue don't want to admit it.) Yet, there's always that little voice in the back of your head (or the friend who always "knows better") telling you that maybe there's another or better way of doing things.

It's only after we made a mistake, sometimes more than once, that we realize that maybe getting some real and honest advice or following the instructions may not be such a bad idea after all. ( As you might have guessed, I am obviously talking from personal experience.)

Why Do I Combine Weather Station Setup Mistakes With Common Misconceptions About Weather Terminologies?

Maybe the answer may not be so unclear in this instance. After all, they are both weather-related. But there is a much closer tie between the two than just the general and very broad term, weather.

This can also be explained by looking at 2 specific points or explanations:

a) Incorrect Weather Sensor Setup Leads To False Readings & Forecasts

An incorrect outdoor weather sensor placement may seem fairly harmless and insignificant to you. The result, however,  may be enough to give your sensors readings so far removed from the real weather conditions that all the wrong data is recorded.

Wrong Weather Station Placement

A couple of things happen as a result. First, apart from getting false readings on your weather display console, your weather station gives you inaccurate forecasts as a result.

Naturally, the weather will not react the way it was "forecasted" by your weather station. You may start thinking you bought a useless weather station, or in the long run, develop the misconception that all weather stations are unreliable and pointless.

All of this because you didn't follow a few simple rules when it came to setting up your outdoor sensors correctly.

This brings me to my second point, as the way we use and measure our weather stations' capabilities is not just by seeing how accurately they display and forecast the weather and how the predicted weather actually turns out.

We also compare them to local weather forecasts and the current and conditions of future weather conditions they predict.

b) Using Weather Forecasts To Better Understand Our Weather Stations

One of the best ways to see how well your weather station is performing and how accurate it can forecast the weather is to compare to a trusted professional local weather service.

detailed weather forecast

Depending on a multitude of factors, the readings and forecasts of your home weather station and that of your local weather service can be almost identical. In some cases, however, they may have very different readings or forecasts.

Before you start getting alarmed, there are several reasons for these discrepancies between your weather station  weather service:

  • Your weather station's outdoor sensors may simply be set up incorrectly. 
  • Your specific location may have different atmospheric conditions than the much broader area a professional weather service's measurements and forecasts cover.
  • A home weather station can only accurately forecast weather conditions 12-24 hours into the future. The unpredictable nature of weather, specifically variables that may suddenly influence it, is often out of its "sensor range." This sometimes makes it difficult for home weather stations to consistently make accurate forecasts, especially long-term forecasts. (Professional weather services have access to long-range sensors like radar and satellite images and remote weather stations that takes all these variables into account, enabling them to make much more accurate forecasts, especially over the long term.) 

Combine all these factors, and you will begin to understand how closely connected your home weather station and local professional weather services really are.

Better understanding professional services and what the terms they use really mean (or nor mean) will go a long way to better understand and use your home weather station effectively.

So after this extensive introduction (and IF YOU ARE STILL AWAKE), let's dive straight into these mistakes and misconceptions and see how e can correct them.

Home Weather Station Mistakes To Avoid

It will be best to start off closest to home and take a look at some of the wrong decisions you can make when it comes to installing your home weather station, specifically when it comes to placing your outdoor sensors.   

1) Place Your Weather Station Close To A Body Of Water, Or Right In The Middle Of Some Lush Green Bushes

One of the three most important weather variables to be measured, is humidity. Combined with temperature and air (barometric) pressure, it provides the crucial data necessary for a weather station to make accurate weather forecasts.

Needless to say, it is therefore vital that you get an accurate reading of the general humidity in the surrounding air. And that is exactly why making this mistake is so important to avoid.

You need your sensor array's hygrometer to measure the humidity in the air without any type of outside (or artificial interference). Placing your sensor next to a body of water or in between lush green bushes is the worst possible thing you can do to achieve this.

weather station placement next to water

Due to the amount of moisture evaporating from the water's surface and the moisture released by the leaves from plants & bushes, the humidity in the surrounding air is much higher than the actual humidity present in the air in your location.

Especially during the day (but also during the night) when the heat from the sun causes water to evaporate at an accelerated pace, the humidity in water's direct vicinity can easily be more than three times that of the actual humidity in your area. 

You can imagine what effect this completely skewed reading will have on a weather's station ability to make even remotely accurate weather forecasts.    

The obvious solution will be to place your weather sensor array as far away as practically possible from any of these artificial sources of humidity. This is not always possible when you have limited space to move your sensors around in, like a very small or non-existent backyard or garden.

This where you can use the advantage of height. By placing your sensor array a minimum of six feet from the ground, you limit the interference from unwanted sources of moisture to a large extend.

Combine this with maximizing the distance you are able to put between your sensors and sources of moisture, and you have all but eliminate the negative influences of these sources.

2) Affix Your Sensor Array Against Or Underneath A Large Solid Structure 

The whole point of placing your weather sensors outside is to expose it to all the weather elements without any form of interference. These elements include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed & direction, as well as rainfall.

So if you place your sensors right against the sidewall of a building or underneath a big tree, what are you actually doing?

The first thing a wall will do is obstruct or completely block the movement of air. So there goes your anemometer's ability to measure wind speed and your wind vane's ability to accurately measure wind direction.

Depending on the location of the wall in relation to the sun, its surface will either be directly exposed to the sun or shielded from it for a large part of the day. This simply means there is no way for a thermometer affixed next to the wall to get an accurate temperature reading.

Add to this the fact that an exposed wall will heat up & reflect some of this heat onto objects close to it, while a wall which has cooled down during the night though and is shielded from the sun will help to keep the temperature much lower than the surrounding air. 

It will become very evident how these factors mentioned above will serve to only amplify the already compromised readings of your sensor array's thermometer.

One last variable that is influenced to a large extend by walls and trees is rainfall. As painfully obvious as this mistake may seem to most of us, there may be some uninformed users who will still find it convenient to place a full sensor array, complete with rain gauge and hygrometer, underneath the thick canopy of a tree of the overhang of a roof next to a sidewall.

I don't even need to explain why this is such a bad idea when it comes to measuring rainfall. Apart from preventing the rain from reaching the rain gauge for accurate rainfall readings, you also need to take into consideration the fact that rain and wind often go hand in hand.

This means rain often falls at an angle and not always straight down. Therefore a wall, even without a roof overhang, can act as a shield to block any rain being blown from the opposite side and prevent it from being captured and measured by a rain gauge.

Wrong Weather Station Placement Next To Walls

Some other variables are also negatively influenced by placing sensors close to large structures. With the ones already mentioned, though, I think you get the idea.

So what can be done to avoid this mistake? Obviously, placing the sensor as far away as possible from any large structure will be the logical solution.

To be more specific, normally, a 4 X 1 rule is recommended. This simply means that the weather sensors should be placed 4 times the distance away from the height of the nearest structure. This means if the structure is 10 feet tall, the weather sensors have to be placed 40 feet away from it.

Unfortunately, very few of us have a backyard or garden that size, so this can be a very limiting factor for many users. Luckily there is a simple solution that solves this and many other sensor placement problems for many weather enthusiasts.  

Using height to eliminate almost any source of interference has turned out to be a lifesaver for many weather station users worldwide. Elevating your sensor array at least 6 feet above the nearest source of interference helps it to achieve the most accurate and consistent readings critical for reliable recording and forecasting. 

(To find out more about sensor placement, you can read in-depth information in this article.)

3) Place Your Indoor Display Console Anywhere You Want

Especially when owning an advanced home weather station with a complex outdoor sensor array, you may be forgiven for thinking that the placement of your indoor display console is not that important. 

This will be a huge mistake. In fact, the ideal location for your indoor display console should be the room or space that most closely matches the outside weather conditions and trends.

There are basically 3 main reasons for the importance of correctly placing your indoor weather station for optimal readings.

By having your indoor device closely resemble outside weather trends, you get a better and more complete picture of all weather conditions (both inside and outside), as well as a global overview of how these atmospheric conditions compare and interact with each other.

kitchen weather station placement

If you own a starter weather station, you may not even have the luxury of an outdoor weather sensor. In this case, it is absolutely critical to choose the right location, as the indoor weather station will rely solely on its own built-in sensor to take measurements and make forecasts. 

When you have a weather station that displays both indoor and outdoor weather conditions, it is very impractical and very confusing to have 2 completely different trending weather conditions displayed right next to each other. (This can happen very easily in rooms like bathrooms or kitchens, where variables like humidity and temperature fluctuate often and extensively, creating very inaccurate measurements.) 

I cover indoor weather placement (as well as the artificial sources that influence their ability to take accurate readings) extensively in this article. If you need more detailed information, feel free to go, and have a look. 

4) Use The Maximum Wireless Distance Stated To Place Your Indoor Weather Station And Outdoor Sensors Apart From Each Other

It is really no secret that many manufacturers use the maximum distance able to be obtained between an indoor base station and the outdoor weather sensors as a selling point for their products. There is a very important fact they don't tell you straight away and is often added as an afterthought, though.

The maximum wireless range between the display console and outdoor sensor array (normally around 300 feet or 100 meters), is measured under the ideal circumstances.

This means the two devices have a direct line of sight with each, with no obstructions between them, and the measurements are taken under ideal weather conditions. Unfortunately, these ideal conditions very seldom exist in the real world.

More often than not, there is at least a few walls, roof or other obstructions between the two devices which will limit the distance the signal can travel. The materials any obstruction consists of also have a large impact on the distance a signal can travel. (For example, a glass window will have very little effect on signal strength, while a metal construction will almost completely block a signal.)

Display Console And Sensor

The best way to make sure there is a strong & stable connection between your sensor array and display console is to start with the two devices next to each other. (Besides, need to have the sensor array and display console very close to each other when setting up for the first time to allow the two to synchronize/pair.) 

With the sensor array in position, you can start moving your display console inside and towards the position you have chosen for it to be placed. Make sure you keep an eye on the display console to make sure it is still receiving the signal at the set intervals from the sensors.

If you manage to reach your desired location with the display console still receiving the sensor signals, you are all set. If not, try and find a location closer to the sensor array where you will be able to start picking up the signal again.

This may be a process of trial and error at first and may feel a bit cumbersome and take up some time. It is very important, though, to ensure you keep a constant and reliable connection with your sensor array and accurate records and forecasts are able to be made.

5) When Setting Up An Advanced Home Weather Station, Always Use The Default Settings

I am very aware of the warnings that come with many electronic devices and appliances, telling you in no uncertain terms to leave the device in its default settings if you are not a specialist or advanced user. 

When it comes to advanced home weather stations, however, it is critical that you set up your device correctly. This means NOT leaving it in its default setting.

Most advanced weather stations actually need you to set it up correctly for your specific location to enable it to make the correct calculations, display the right information, and make accurate weather forecasts.

My Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey Weather Station for example, required me to set the correct date, time, and time zone. I also had to customize the barometric pressure to that of my specific location, and the setup even made me specify whether I am located in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere.

And unlike you might be thinking right now, it was actually a ridiculously easy and quick process with the easy-to-follow instruction guide. (Most modern-day systems make it very easy for you to set up and customize your personal weather system.)

Weather, especially air movement, reacts differently in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere. Barometric pressure also varies from one location to another. Setting the correct time zone also helps to calculate a variety of parameters.

You will now begin to understand the importance of giving your weather station the best possible information regarding your specific location. Using these inputs in conjunction with the different sensor readings allows it to make the best possible calculations and accurate forecasts for your specific location.

(Spending 10-15 minute setting up your weather device correctly and getting years of accurate readings, data recording, and weather predictions clearly outweigh leaving a weather device in "default mode" and end up with a very unreliable and inaccurate white elephant.)

6) Rely Solely On Your Personal Weather Station's Forecasts For All Your Local Weather Information

I have mentioned it in so many articles I have lost count, but if you are a regular reader of my posts, you know how enthusiastic I am and shamelessly I promote the use of home/personal weather stations.

But as much as I love them and promote their numerous benefits and features for any weather enthusiast, I am painfully aware of the limitations of personal weather stations.

Yes, they provide users with weather information specific to their location. They provide owners of large areas of land, like farmers and plantation owners, with invaluable rainfall and thermal readings to help them monitor & plan a variety of activities. 

Using a home weather station in isolation however, will be a very big mistake. Although it provides you with the most accurate and up-to-date data of your specific location's weather conditions, it can't match the capabilities of a professional weather service.

Professional Weather Services

The first and biggest advantage of a professional weather service is its access to a vast array of weather sensors. From satelliteradar images, weather balloons to remote weather stations, they have access to detailed data of approaching & changing weather conditions up to thousands of miles away.

By tracking and analyzing this wealth of information, they are able to make very accurate forecasts of weather conditions in your location 5-7 days in advance. Variables that your home weather station's sensors will only be able to pick up a day before your weather conditions are affected. 

The second advantage of professional weather services is the complex and powerful algorithms they use to process all the received data with advanced computing hardware. 

The sheer amount of data and computing power necessary to perform all these algorithms and weather predictions is simply out of reach for the wealthiest and most enthusiastic home weather station user.  

For these reasons, home weather stations should be seen as complementary to your region's professional broadcasting services. Combined, they provide you with a much more complete and accurate picture of current and future weather conditions in your area.

While your weather service can give you the big picture of upcoming weather events, your home weather station can fill in the gaps and show you all the fluctuations and weather conditions, as well as short-term forecasts of your specific locations.

Use these 2 resources at your disposal together, and you will always be one step ahead of the weather and become quite an accomplished weather expert.

7) The Amount Of Weather Sensors Determine The Quality Of Your Home Weather Station

Many modern-day home weather stations come with so many weather sensors attached to their outdoor sensor array that it can actually be a bit overwhelming. 

Is this a good thing? Well, I would say the answer is yes and no...

My latest weather station (Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey Weather Station) is equipped with a total of 10 weather sensors. To be honest, I very seldom pay attention to more than 5 of the readings.

I may find the remaining variables measured useful in the future, but there is no more than a handful of features really necessary to monitor and make accurate weather forecasts.

As already mentioned in other articles on this website, there are really 3 critical variables necessary to be measured and recorded:

  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • Air (Barometric) Pressure

These 3 measurements are used extensively by most advanced weather stations to establish weather patterns and calculate forecasts.

There are a few other variables, however, that play an important role in establishing and recording weather patterns. Recording weather elements like rainfall, wind speed, and direction helps you establish specific patterns and associate certain weather conditions with these patterns.

As important as all these sensors are, it is the accuracy and consistency with which your weather sensors are able to take measurements that matter the most. This is literally a case of quality over quantity.

This does not by any means imply that making use of a sensor array with a comprehensive set of weather sensors will not be very beneficial, and give you the most complete picture of your weather conditions. (Especially if you don't need to sacrifice quality and price is not an issue.)

It simply means if you have to choose between fewer but better and more accurate sensors, or a full & comprehensive but inferior set of sensors, choosing the less but more accurate set of sensors will always be the better choice.     

Common Weather Misconceptions Leading To Confusion & Inaccurate Conclusions

As important it is to avoid making any of these weather station mistakes mentioned in the previous section is the knowledge and ability to correctly interpret weather forecasts, as well as the terms and weather systems mentioned in them.

Failing to do so will lead you to correctly interpret the different weather systems and variables mentioned while watching forecasts or reading a detailed online report from a professional weather service.

This, in turn, will lead you to make the same mistakes when trying to interpret your own weather station's readings or understanding the different variables measured.    

8) A Cold Front Leads To Rainy Weather, While A Warm Front Is Associated With Dry & Calm Weather Conditions

All meteorologists will immediately point out the mistake in this statement, but it's not so obvious to the normal observer. The word, "cold" is very often mentioned in the same breath as wet and rainy weather, while the word "warm" is mentioned just as often in the same breath as dry and pleasant weather conditions.

It actually happens so often, that it resulted in an almost unconscious tendency by most people to automatically associate cold with wet, and warm with dry weather conditions. This is completely normal, so you cannot really be blamed for making such an assumption. 

To put the record straight, both cold and warm fronts have the potential to bring cloudy and rainy weather with them. Their characteristics and the impact they have on their environment, is what sets them apart, however.

thunderstorm

The arrival of a cold front is normally very abrupt, accompanied by heavy rains and stormy weather conditions, including strong winds and thunderstorms, which normally moves very quickly and can dissipate as quickly as it arrived. 

(This dramatic and violent nature of cold fronts helped to establish this strong association many people have formed between cold fronts and stormy wet weather.)

A warm front, on the other hand, takes much longer to build up as it moves much slower than a cold front. It is also characterized by a light but much more sustained rainfall, which can last for several hours to even days.

There is a variety of reasons for the different characteristics of the two fronts. There are also much more complex mechanisms at work that are responsible for the formation and behavior of the different weather systems. 

For the purpose of this article, it is not necessary to examine these two systems in much more detail. If you are interested, you can read more in-depth information in this article.   

9) Hurricanes, Typhoons, And Tropical Cyclones. Why So Many Different Storm Systems?

I know it can be very confusing when weather forecasts often refer to different devastating storm systems around the world and randomly use terms like "hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones and tropical storms." 

Luckily there is a fairly simple answer to this complex looking question...

They are all one and the same type of storm!

So why all the different names. Luckily for this, there is also a fairly simple answer for this one, and it's all got to do with location. In the Northern Hemisphere, these storms are called Hurricanes, while they are called Typhoons in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The last term, "Tropical Cyclone," is the umbrella term used by meteorologists to describe all forms of these storms, from tropical depressions and tropical storms to hurricanes and typhoons. (All these storm systems originate over the warm waters of the oceans in tropical and subtropical regions.)

And that is really all there is to it when it comes to the different names given to what is basically the same type of storm system. 

There are obviously some small differences in their characteristics, but not really of much importance in the context of this article. I dedicated a complete article to the subject of hurricanes/typhoons, so if you are interested, you can read all about them in this article.

10) The Same Type Of Weather Systems Have Exactly The Same Wind Characteristics, No Matter Where On The Planet They Occur

This statement is mostly true as far as wind behavior is concerned. When it comes to wind direction, however, this is statement doesn't really hold up. 

In big storm systems like hurricanes and typhoons, the winds rotate in different directions depending on where on the planet you live. 

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winds rotate counterclockwise in a hurricane, while they rotate clockwise in a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere. The reason for this phenomenon all has to do with the rotation of the earth...

The earth's rotation (the direction it spins in) is always in an easterly direction. Combine this with the fact that the diameter of the earth is much bigger at the equator than at the poles (which means the earth's rotational speed is much faster at the equator than at the poles).

The effect it creates is called the Coriolis Effect. And it is this Coriolis effect that is responsible for the counterclockwise rotation of hurricane winds in the Northern Hemisphere, and the clockwise rotation of typhoon winds in the Southern Hemisphere.

In fact, the Coriolis Effect can be applied to all wind movements around areas of low pressure. Even on much smaller systems, like cold fronts, this effect can be seen in the respective hemispheres.

As surprising as this bit of information may be, it should also serve as a word of caution for all our home weather station users. Whenever you look at weather reports and take note of the wind rotation and resulting weather conditions, always remember in which hemisphere you are, as well as the location to which the weather forecast is referring.

(Especially when you keep a record of your location's wind speed & rotation, as well as the resulting weather conditions, this will be crucial to keep in mind when you are trying to calculate accurate weather patterns over the course of time.)

11) When A Hurricane/Typhoon Passes Over You, It Is Safe To Go Out Once The Weather Suddenly Clears Up

If you are a weather expert or have been in the unfortunate position of having personally experienced the destructive power of a hurricane, you will know just how dangerous this assumption is.

This may actually be the most dangerous time to leave the safety of the location you were sheltering it. To best understand it, we need to take a look at the structure and characteristics of a hurricane.

Hurricane

As the picture above shows, a hurricane has a circular/oval shape. The low-pressure system in the center is called the eye of the hurricane,  which is normally a calm area with clear skies. (And therein lies the danger). The dense clouds surrounding the eye (called the eyewall) contains the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall. 

From there, the storm forms the typical bands of clouds spiraling out from the center in the shape that is so characteristic of a hurricane. (As previously mentioned, the winds in a hurricane rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.)

It is the eye of the hurricane that makes it so dangerous, as it causes the stormy weather to suddenly calm down and the skies to clear, creating the false impression that the storm has passed and it's safe to leave your shelter.

The eye is normally about 24 km (15 miles) in diameter, and it can stay over an area for up to an hour or more, depending on how fast the storm system is moving. When it has passed, the area is hit by the back eyewall of the storm, bringing with as much if not more devastating winds & rains.

People who didn't heed local warnings or are unfamiliar with hurricanes and their characteristics are often caught off-guard by this back eyewall, resulting in serious injury and even fatalities.

12) Flooding Is The biggest Cause Of Death As A Result Of A Monsoon

The very heavy rainfall during a monsoon and the resulting flooding is indeed a big contributor to a large number of fatalities in India and Southeast Asia. Especially the unexpected flash-flooding that occurs after a heavy downpour can be deadly.

Surprisingly though, flooding is not the biggest cause of fatalities as a result of a monsoon. In fact, the biggest and deadliest consequences of a monsoon occur long after it has passed.

By far the biggest cause of deaths in the aftermath or result is actually waterborne diseases.

Monsoons leave a lot of standing water in their wake, which serves as a breeding ground for many of these waterborne diseases.

Some of the potentially deadly diseases include Typhoid, Malaria, Dengue, and Viral Fever. These diseases can cause thousands of fatalities each year during the monsoon season.

They are also transmitted in a variety of ways, including bathing in contaminated water, contact with infected bodily secretions, and eating contaminated food.

13) Hiding Under A Highway Overpass or Crossing a River Will Protect You From A Tornado

When it comes to tornadoes, there are a wealth of theories out there telling you what to do and what not to do when confronted by this violent storm.

One very popular piece of advice that has been circulating for ages and even made popular by some disaster movies is to leave the relative safety of your car and take shelter underneath an overpass on the highway.

Tornado

Experts have now debunked this theory. Contrary to popular belief, the effect of the tornado can be made worse by the construction of an overpass. The overpass can cause the tornado to funnel and even accelerate underneath it, worsening its impact and potential to cause damage and harm.

Also, being completely exposed puts you at risk of being hit by flying debris, and the force of the tornado can also slam cars into the overpass.

The advice given is to rather take shelter in the nearest possible ditch, or if you don't have any other choice, stay in the relative safety of your car.

The second part of this section relates to another misconception, or popular belief that crossing a river will protect you from a tornado. It is unclear where this myth originated from. While it is true that the cool air near bodies of water can be disruptive to thunderstorms, which can lead to tornadoes, it has no clear impact on a tornado itself.

Actually, the lower friction over the water of a river or dam may actually help to increase the wind speed inside a tornado. In other words, you are no less safe after crossing a river or two in an attempt to escape a tornado.

(The Tri-State tornado of 1925 killed almost 700 hundred people and injured more than 2000, all while crossing both the Mississippi and Wabash rivers.)

Some tornadoes actually form over water. You may have seen videos and images of these water funnels, called water-sprouts. 

Conclusion

Ok, this article turned out to be a bit longer than expected. If you made it all the way through it, you can really give yourself a pat on the back.

It was important, though, to not just touch lightly on each subject. We dug a little deeper and explained exactly why making the mistakes you can with your home weather station can have such a big effect on the observations & conclusions you make.

Apart from the last 2 weather misconceptions, all the other misconceptions can also influence the way you view and interpret the data from your weather station.

It was therefore critical that the reasons for these misconceptions are thoroughly explained, as well as the correct way to interpret them.

I trust this post helped you to gain a better insight into the workings of your home weather station and how the way you view and understand weather terms and variables used in weather reports & forecasts impact your ability to make the best use of your own station and have a more complete understanding of weather interactions.

Never miss out again when another interesting and helpful article is released and stay updated, while also receiving helpful tips & information by simply  clicking on this link .

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

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Start Your Weather Journey With These Three Indoor Home Weather Stations Under $50

3 Indoor Weather Stations Review heading

I get it, believe me. You get interested in a subject like the weather and want to get your feet wet, but all you can find are reviews and tests of "the best" or "the most popular" products in the field. And all you wanted was something simple to get your feet wet and get some experience. 

Been there, got the t-shirt. (Probably one of a few reasons it took me so long to really get hooked or enthusiastic about any specific interest or hobby.)

If you find yourself in this position when it comes to all things weather-related, you may have just stumbled across the right article for you.

If you read any of my other articles or pages, you will know that I am quite passionate about the weather and would love for everyone else to get interested and involved with it as well.

This is one of the main reasons I put this article together. With a budget of $50 or below, I had a look at three weather stations that do not have countless measurements and readings, or an array of outside sensors.

What they do have, however, is the ability to provide you with simple and straight-forward measurements and displays. Just enough to keep you easily informed, let you compare your readings with the actual weather you are experiencing, and in the process hopefully grow your knowledge and interest in this surprisingly fascinating world of weather. 

Let's take a look at my pick of the three indoor weather stations one at a time.

ThermoPro TP55 Indoor Thermometer

The first thing that jumps out after unpacking and starting up this weather station, is the large and easy-to-read display. It may come with a small price-tag, but definitely makes sure you take notice of it.

ThermoPro TP55 Digital Hygrometer Indoor Thermometer

And that is one thing I immediately liked about this "budget" weather station. Especially when you start out with your first weather station, you don't want to be confused a by a barrage of meter readings fighting for your attention.

The ThermoPro TP55 keeps things very simple. Although many criticize it for not being able to show you the time, the two most important measurements are prominently displayed. Those two measurements are humidity and temperature.

(Honestly, with everything from your cell phone to your microwave telling you the time, do you really need another device telling you the time?)

Smaller readings like minimum/maximum readings and the ability to change between units (Fahrenheit/Celsius) is very handy and easy to access.

The 4 inch touchscreen display has a pleasant blue backlight that lights up for 15 seconds with a simple touch of a finger. (Very handy when on your bed stand and you want to take quick reading in low lighting conditions.)  

It also has a foldout stand at the back to place on any flat surface, or you can use the magnet to place it against any metal surface. It is these small attention to detail that I found very handy and practical.  

The only thing I would have liked to see added is a barometric (air) pressure reading. On a starter weather station, this is really not necessary though.

Here is a brief summary of some of the benefits:

  • Very affordable
  • Large and easy-to-read display
  • Simple and easy to use
  • Quality build and feel
  • Fairly accurate humidity and temperature measurements
  • Humidity and temperature trend indicators

Here is a brief summary of a few drawbacks:

  • No AC adapter
  • No barometric (air) pressure measurement and reading
  • No custom measurement calibration

As you can see, I find it hard to fault this little indoor weather station, especially for the price. Yes, it may lack a few features, but I find it really unnecessary for anyone who just want a simple system to start with.

You can find more information and pricing on the ThermoPro TP55 Digital Hygrometer Indoor Thermometer here.

FanJu FJ3365W Wireless Weather Station

If you are looking for something unique that will immediately grabs someone's attention, look no further than the FJ3365W. From the moment you lay your eyes on it, you will see what I am referring to.

It's not often that you find a weather station housed in an attractive wood textured casing. (Yes, it also comes in black and grey, but the wood textured casing is by far the most popular choice and the one I opted for as well).

FanJu FJ3365W Wireless Weather Station

The display is also bright and easy to read, although like many other weather stations, its viewing angle is limited. The wider your viewing angle the more difficult it will become to read the display.

(Luckily most of the time when you want to have a good look at the readings, you will be standing or sitting right in front of the device. I certainly did not find it to be a problem at all.)

But obviously looks aren't everything, so let's concentrate on the device's features. Unlike the ThermoPro TP55, the FanJu FJ3365W comes standard with the added benefit of an external sensor unit. Although not a requirement for the purpose of this article, it definitely does have its benefits.

Like the ThermoPro, it comes with temperature and humidity settings. What set it aparts however, is the fact that it shows outdoor humidity & temperature readings on the left, and indoor humidity & temperature readings on the right of the device.

It also includes additional functions like displaying the moon phase, date and time.  The fact that it also comes with a daily alarm and snooze function, makes it ideal to be used as an alarm clock on your bed stand. (Yes, it can be very bright in the dark, but you have 5 backlight settings to choose from to adjust the display to your level of comfort. The display can even be switched off completely.)

Another welcome feature is the inclusion of a barometric pressure reading. As already mentioned, I find this feature unnecessary for a beginner weather station. Having said that, it is welcome addition and will help you to better understand the weather.

One last feature that needs to be highlighted is the FanJu's forecasting ability through icons displayed in the centre of the display. (And the forecasting is surprisingly accurate for a device in this price bracket.)

I feel obliged to mention that while researching this weather station, I came across some reviews where users experienced some device failures after their purchase. In most cases though, they were resolved quickly by the supplier and I haven't experienced any of these problems myself.

Here is a brief summary of some of the benefits:

  • Attractive design and housing
  • Bright and logically laid-out display 
  • Outdoor sensor adds additional functionality to the weather station
  • Build-in date, time and alarm
  • Moon phase indicator
  • Barometric (air) pressure measurement and reading
  • Both outdoor and indoor humidity & temperature displayed
  • Weather forecasting function
  • AC Adapter 

Here is a brief summary of some drawbacks:

  • Limited viewing angle
  • Instruction manual not very clear
  • Reported potential reliability issues (not personally experienced)

Like I said, the FanJu is quite the attention grabber, but luckily there is much more to it than just good looks. The  feature set and ease-of-use make it  a very attractive proposition as a starter indoor weather station.

You can find more information and pricing on the FanJu FJ3365W Weather Station here.

La Crosse Technology C85845 Color Wireless Forecast Station

To use a cliche, I saved the best for last. (And yes, it is also the most expensive of the 3 weather stations, but still real bargain for what it has to offer.)

As far as functions and appearance go, the La Crosse very closely mimics the FanJu FJ3365W weather station. It offers the majority features that the Fanju device offer, and even the display have a very similar layout. 

(Like the FanJu, the outdoor humidity & temperature readings can be find on the left, while the indoor humidity & temperature readings are displayed on the right. The forecast outlook, date and time are displayed in the centre of the display.) 

La Crosse Technology C85845

This is where the similarities end however. These two weather stations are two completely different beasts. It is hard to explain from just looking at photos, but in the flesh you can clearly see and feel the difference.

First of all, the La Crosse weather station is a bigger device. (At 9 x 5.4 inches in width and height, it is actually the biggest of all three weather stations.) It also has a solid look and feel to it, giving the impression of high-quality device.  

These impressions are reinforced by the more accurate readings I managed to get from La Crosse, compared to the readings observed from the other two weather stations. (My Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey weather station, as well as local professional weather services were used as reference sources.)

Please note, these observations are not meant to put the FanJu FJ3365W and ThermoPro TP55 in a negative light at all. They are both great beginner stations that will provide any prospective weather enthusiast with months or years of weather observation enjoyment.

For a slightly higher price tag though, you get a higher quality product with more accurate weather measurement capabilities. (These differences can be seen as negligible and the margins aren't that big.) You can decide for yourself if you prefer a more budget friendly, or slightly higher quality product.

Some advanced features include an atomic clock and self-calibrating functionality features. It also includes comfort level indicators which use the temperature and humidity settings to give users a more practical reflection of how weather conditions will be perceived.

I can only really point to one feature I found lacking on the the La Crosse, and that is the absence of any barometric pressure display. I know I said that this is a feature I don't consider necessary for a beginner weather station, and I definitely don't consider it a deal breaker. (Still, it would have been a very welcome addition to a weather station considered to be the most advanced of the three devices discussed in this article.)

With that said, let's take a quick look at some of the specific advantages and disadvantages of La Crosse Technology C85845 Color Wireless Forecast Station.   

Here is a brief summary of some of the benefits:

  • High-quality design and housing
  • Bright and logically laid-out display 
  • Outdoor sensor with accurate measurements
  • Build-in date, time and alarm
  • Adjustable brightness settings for display
  • Weather trend indicators (for both temperature and humidity)
  • Both outdoor and indoor humidity & temperature displayed
  • Accurate weather forecasting function
  • Atomic clock
  • Self calibration functionality
  • AC Adapter 

Here is a brief summary of some drawbacks:

  • Reported limited viewing angle (not personally experienced)
  • No barometric (air) pressure reading

The La Crosse Technology C85845 can be viewed as a device serving a dual purpose. On the one hand, it can be seen as a very well equipped beginner weather station. With it's more advanced functions and accurate weather measurements, it can also be seen as a budget entry into the field of more advanced home weather stations.  

You can find more information and pricing on the La Crosse Technology C85845 Color Wireless Forecast Station here.

Conclusion

You just got a quick overview of three very capable entry-level indoor weather stations that will be ideal for starting out when you venture into the world of all things weather related.

Whether you choose the simplicity and large display of the affordable ThermoPro TP55 Indoor Thermometer, or the more advanced and slightly more expensive La Crosse Technology C85845, you really can't go wrong.

(If you are looking for a more advanced weather station that will serve you well for years to come and have the budget, take a look at my article on my Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey Weather Station. Yes I am biased, but I am one very happy owner. If you are interested, you can read the article here.)

Whichever you choose (if you decide on picking any of these indoor weather stations), I just hope I managed to spark enough curiosity to take the first step in what will hopefully be a long interest and passion for the weather and climate. 

If I managed to achieve that, then mission accomplished.

Feel free to leave me any comments, questions or suggestions, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Remember to join my  Mailing List  to be informed whenever a new article is released, and share new developments and helpful hints & tips.

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

Wessel


How To Get An Accurate Reading And Forecast From Your Home Indoor Weather Station

How To Get An Accurate Reading And Forecast From An Indoor Weather Station heading

For many of us used to working with personal weather stations, it's remarkable how accurate and advanced today's indoor weather stations have become. Most of them come standard with features that were only available on high-end and professional weather systems two decades ago.

Even some of those without an outdoor sensor unit are still able to make surprisingly accurate weather predictions from measurements taken indoors. 

That does not mean care should be taken when it comes to choosing the best location in your home to place your personal weather station. Choosing the worst location in your home can throw off even the best of indoor weather stations while choosing the best possible location will improve and maximize the measuring and forecasting capabilities of a quality station.

The best place to put a weather station is determined to a large extent by the space in your home, as well as some very important factors we will be addressing in the next section.  

Factors To Take Into Consideration

When it comes to choosing the best indoor location for personal weather station placement, a few very important factors should be taken into consideration.

Most home weather stations (and many professional weather systems) rely on a variety, but specifically, three weather variables, to determine current and forecast future weather conditions. They are temperature, humidity, and air pressure.

Advanced weather stations with an array of outdoor sensors make use of additional measurements. (Wind direction, wind speed, and rainfall.)

Since we are focusing on indoor weather stations, however, these three weather variables will play the biggest part in taking accurate readings and better weather forecasts. 

The best way to understand each one's importance is to take a closer look at how each one influence weather conditions:

1) Temperature

Temperature is probably the most familiar weather element all of us can associate with. We all know the feeling of being hot or cold, and that temperature is mostly responsible for it.

rainy weather

But temperature does a lot more than just determining how we feel. Changes in temperature can also be an indication of a change in weather conditions.

In many instances, a relatively fast and persistent drop in air temperature may be an indication of a cold front approaching, which is normally associated with moisture filled clouds which will result in cold and rainy weather.

This not always the case, though. Sometimes, depending on where you live, a persistent rise in temperature may also point to extreme weather conditions on the way.

This is one of the reasons it is so important to never use temperature on its own to try and predict future weather conditions, but always use it in conjunction with humidity and air (barometric) pressure readings.

The big takeaway here is that fairly rapid and persistent changes in temperature help to indicate changes in weather. That is why it so vital to place your weather station where it is mostly affected by natural changes in temperature and not by artificial elements like heaters, air conditions, stoves, etc. 

2) Humidity

Changes in humidity (or lack of it) is also a key indicator of changes in weather conditions. It also amplifies the effect of the temperature we are experiencing.

In a dessert, a high temperature may be quite tolerable. Experience the same temperature at the tropics and the coast where the humidity is much higher, and suddenly it becomes uncomfortably hot and draining.

The same applies to cold weather. A relatively cold temperature may be bearable in a dry location. The same temperature experienced at the Scottish Coast under misty conditions is experienced as much colder with a lot more "bite" than its cousin over dry land.

humidity

Back to its forecasting ability. A sustained increase in humidity more often than not points to rainy weather conditions approaching. (The rain-carrying air and clouds contain a high volume of moisture, which can normally be detected by increased humidity readings from your weather station, as the rainy weather conditions are preceded by increasingly humid air ahead of it.)

Similar to temperature, it is vital that you place your indoor weather station in a neutral location unaffected by artificial sources of humidity. Bathrooms or laundry rooms, for example, generate their own sources of humidity, which can result in false readings and inaccurate forecasts by weather stations.  

To learn more about humidity & the effect on its surroundings, you can find it in this article

3) Air (barometric) Pressure

The last important variable I want to touch on is air (barometric) pressure. Normally a drop in air pressure is an indication of rain and stormy weather on the way. A rise in air pressure, on the other hand, is an indication of approaching pleasant and sunny conditions.

barometer

Barometric pressure is very closely tied to temperature, and the two often go hand-in-hand. (You can learn more about how high and low-pressures systems are formed and the weather that is formed as a result in this article.)

Needless to say, a location in your house that has an unnatural/artificial effect on the temperature will impact air pressure as well.

As a result, the same advice given for accurate temperature readings applies to air pressure readings as well. This means, for an accurate barometric pressure reading, place your weather station in a location where the temperature is as stable as possible and unaffected by artificial heating and cooling.

You can learn more about air (barometric) pressure in this article.

Choose Your Room Carefully

Deciding on which room to place your weather station in will play a big part in determining how accurate your weather station's readings will be.

As you probably would have guessed, based on the factors mentioned in the previous section, there are certain rooms that are completely off-limits when it comes to indoor weather station placements. Time to expose the biggest culprits:

bathroom

The Bathroom: Something you will find in every bathroom is a shower or bath (or both). Even taking a lukewarm shower will cause a dramatic increase in humidity and temperature.

Even using the washing basin or flushing the toilet has a bigger effect on humidity than you think. So you can imagine the dramatic effect it will have on a weather station's readings. This room is a very big no-no.

The Kitchen: Similar to the bathroom, the kitchen is also a source of artificial influences on the air, especially the temperature. The stove, microwave, and even the back of your fridge generate a significant amount of heat.

Heated food from the stove and microwave can also generate enough steam to cause significant changes in humidity. These factors make the kitchen just as unsuitable as the bathroom for weather station placement.

Rooms Receiving Direct Sunlight: Many houses are built in such a way to make the most use of sunlight. (In the Northern Hemisphere, you will find many rooms facing south to receive more sunlight, and in the Southern Hemisphere many rooms are facing north for the same reason).

Although this helps to keep these specific rooms warm during winter times, it creates a much higher temperature than that of the outside air or the rest of the house.

Preferably, these rooms should be avoided. At the very least, place the weather station as far away from the window as possible and out of direct sunlight. 

So which room is the best suited to place your weather station then?

Obviously, you know by know which specific rooms to avoid.  Having said that, you know your house best. So you will know which room in it closely reflects that of the weather conditions outside. 

To put it more precisely, choose the room that reacts in the closest possible way to the way the outside weather reacts and changes. This will be the best possible location for your indoor weather station.

I am not oblivious to the fact that many weather enthusiasts do not have a house or big apartment with various rooms to choose from to place your weather station in.

Don't let this put you off. There is always something you can do to make your indoor measurements as accurate as possible, no matter how small your home environment. Even in a bachelor flat...

kitchen

Needless to say, if your apartment is big enough to house a separate bathroom and kitchen, please avoid them for the reasons already mentioned earlier in this section (with humidity and temperature being the biggest culprits). The same applies to any location in the apartment close to a window that receives direct sunlight for much of the day.

As the owner, you know your apartment best, so you will know which spot in it closely reflects that of the weather conditions outside. And like the most suited room in a house, this spot in your apartment will be the best location for your weather station.

A final note needs to be made on height. (This applies to both house and apartment owners.) The height of your weather station is as important as the location of your house/apartment you choose to place it in.

The air in your home reacts very much in the same way as the air outside in the earth's atmosphere. This means the colder (and heavier) air is located closest to the floor, while the warmest (and lightest) air is located at the ceiling or the highest point in the room.

(This is why your attic is always the hottest location in your house and the cellar the coldest.)

As you probably already guessed, the best possible height to place your weather station is about halfway between the floor and ceiling. Luckily and conveniently, this is normally more or less at eye level when seated, which makes it a very practical location.

A Word On Outdoor Sensors  

Ambient Weather WS2902 Installed

As we are focusing on indoor weather stations in this article, there is no need to go into any detail about outdoor sensor placement. If you need to get more information on optimal outdoor sensor placement, though, I dedicated a whole article on the subject You can read the full article here.

In summary, keeping the sensors as far away as possible from nearby objects that may interfere with accurate measurements is always the best practice to follow. (The article mentioned in the previous paragraph is packed with all the information you need to make informed decisions about outdoor sensor placement.)

Conclusion

By now, you should have a pretty good idea and overview of what location will be best to place your indoor weather station in. I made it pretty clear which variables have the biggest influence on their sensor readings, as well as which rooms to avoid.

Not only has the specific type of rooms to be avoided been highlighted, but the point has also been made that you will be able to find a suitable spot to place your weather station, no matter how small or limited your living space.

Never miss out again when another interesting and helpful article is released and stay updated, while also receiving helpful tips & information by simply  following this link .

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

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Installation And First Impressions Of The Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey Weather Station

Ambient Weather WS2902 Review Heading

With years of experience with different personal weather stations, it was time to do another upgrade to an advanced home weather station with more advanced sensors and the latest technologies needed to stay connected and updated.

I needed to upgrade to a modern weather station that had all the sensors needed to make more accurate and consistent measurements and predictions. There are many good options out there, so a lot of research had to be done.

I thoroughly researched all options, and there are very good home weather stations available. Some which look great and has impressive displays and sensor assemblies. Some came highly recommended as very professional with a price tag to match.

Ambient Weather WS2902 Box

I needed something that is advanced, reliable and accurate. Those were my three biggest requirements. One name kept popping up, the Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey. After some further research, I finally took the plunge and am now the proud owner of the very same personal weather station.

I am glad to report that this decision has been a good one. (Yes, I made some bad ones in the past.) In this article, I am taking you through the installation process and my impressions of the Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey.

Installation And Setup

Packaging

For me, the first real indication of a quality product, is the the way it is packaged. The WS-2902A Osprey  didn't just come in a sturdy box, but ( I guess for transport purposes) packaged within an even bigger box with bubble wrap to give it extra protection.)

Ambient Weather WS2902 Packaging

The different components were securely wrapped, each one in its own compartment. Unpacking and unwrapping took quite some time, but that just goes to show how well protected and insulated every last piece of the weather station came packaged right from the start. This really instilled a sense of confidence and reassurance in my choice of purchase.

Components And Assembly

About five or six different components came packaged separately, which had to be attached to the main sensor array. This was a quick and easy process though, not even taking 15 minutes. (A rather hefty manual with a quick-start guide was at hand with step-by-step instructions which made it easy for even the least technically inclined among us.)

The whole assembly feels very sturdy, with the plastics having a high quality feel to them. Just needing a small Philips screwdriver to fasten the different components, the wind vane,   anemometer and funnel for the rain gauge, were quickly attached securely attached.

All that remained was for two AA batteries to be installed and the protective seal of the solar panel to be removed and the the sensor array was ready to be mounted. After battery installation, the red transmitter light lid up and then started flickering intermittently to indicate that the sensor array is broadcasting. 

The Ambient system comes with a bracket set (complete with a little spanner to fasten the sensor array) with a back-plate that can be fastened to a 1-2 inch pole. The pole doesn't come standard but can be purchased from Ambient Weather or even better, from any hardware store in your area at a fraction of the cost.

Ambient Weather WS2902 Assembly

Ambient Weather WS2902 Assembly

Care should be taken as to where to install your sensor array for the most accurate measurement. The included instruction guide helps you out with determining the best position, but I dedicated a whole article to optimal sensor placement which you can find here.

Just a quick note on positioning. The instructions are not very clear on this, but make sure your sensor array is pointing in the right direction when fastening it in position. The arm with the rain gauge attached to it, had a little arrow that points to the north. 

(If your assembly is pointing in the wrong direction, the wind direction will not be correctly indicated on your display and connected applications, an may even influence forecasts and other calculations.)

You can use a compass, the digital compass on your cell phone or even Google Maps to determine where north is in your area. 

And that's it. Your sensor assembly is now installed & mounted, and ready to be connected. 

Display Console Setup

Setting up your display console is just as easy and intuitive, and again your installation guide takes you through the process step-by-step. (Initial setup took me about 15 minutes maximum.)The display console feels solid with all the onscreen readings and icons logically laid out.

Make sure to insert the three AAA batteries, as well as connecting the AC Adapter to a power outlet to make sure the unit remains operational at all time and the display stays on. (The batteries will make sure the unit stays operational during a power failure, but the the AC Adapter needs to be connected for the screen to remain permanently on.)

Ambient Weather WS2902 Display Console Assembly

After removing the protective screen cover and deciding whether you are going to use the fold-out legs at the back of the unit or the included base stand to make the console stand upright, your console is ready to be set up.

It is important that you follow ALL the steps in the setup process, especially when it comes to time, date, location (timezone and hemisphere) and initial barometric pressure settings. This will ensure you get accurate readings, as well as relevant and correct calculations and forecasts for your location.

The WS-2902A Osprey is designed to be used anywhere in the world, and during setup you are able to customize the console to display all data in the unit of your choice, depending where in the world you live.

Whether you live in an area still using the Empirical System (feet, inches, mph), or the metric system (millimeters, meters, km/h), you can set up the console to display all data collected in the units appropriate for your region.

And with the display console all set up, your initial installation is all done.

(Just remember to hold the console relatively close to the sensor array location, about 5-10 feet, while setting up to allow the two units to synchronise. After synchronization, you can move the console to its permanent position.) 

If you are unsure about where to place your display console, I dedicated a whole article about the indoor placement of your weather station which you can read in this article. 

Wireless Connection Setup

The Importance Of Connecting Your Weather Station

Setting up your wireless connection and connecting to your online portal is arguably the biggest appeal and the most important part of setting up the Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey. For me, this is where the real magic happens. But why?

Being able to connect to Ambient Weather's own network or joining Weather Underground does much more than just allow you to mirror and show all the display console's data. The additional tools provided by their dashboards are invaluable.

Below the real time data displayed on the dashboard, you will find a graph for each measurement on a timeline of your choice. Everything from temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, all the way to solar radiation are captured and displayed on a timeline.

You can choose to view your data over the course of a day, week, month or a year. (Weather Underground even allows you to choose a custom period of your choice.)

Ambient Weather WS2902 Graph

Ambientweather.net Graphic Timelines

These graphs provide you with crucial data as to how the different weather element change over time. The barometric pressure graph for example, gives you a visual indication of how pressure is dropping or rising over time. The steepness of the changes in pressure also provides you with valuable information of how quickly changes are taking place.

Keeping track of these graphs and timelines will help you to be able to understand current weather conditions, as well as determining future weather events (and establish weather patterns) in your area.

If you don't know what these changes means, that's fine! These timeline graphs serve as an excellent teaching tool, as you can follow the changes on these graphs and see how the weather around you responds accordingly. You will very quickly start to see how certain changes correspond with specific weather events.

You can always verify your findings by looking up how different changes in weather elements influence the weather. You can find some helpful information in this article explaining different weather elements & terminologies and how it affects weather behavior.

Setting Up WiFi

Connecting your display console to your router via wi-fi is straight forward, but takes a little bit more concentration. Also make sure you follow ALL the steps and make notes of all settings (MAC addresses, IP settings, usernames and passwords). You will need it when connecting to the different online services or need to reconnect at a later stage.

You start by downloading the Ambient Tool for your iPhone or Android device. Follow the instructions on your device very carefully. Your instruction guide also takes you through the setup process step-by-step again.

(Please don't rush through this process without reading and following the instructions carefully, like yours truly. You end up having to redo everything several times and end up utterly frustrated with a lot of time wasted in the process. Ask me, I know!)

During the Wi-Fi setup you have the option to connect to both Ambientweather.net and Wunderground.com, each providing you with real-time data, detailed timeline graphs and the ability to record and store all your measurements.

I opted to register on both, but you can just register on just one site as both provide you with similar functions and services. I would really recommend registering with Weather Underground  (Wunderground.com).

By doing this you get all the benefits mentioned in the previous section. But for all intents and purposes, you also just became part of a worldwide weather forecasting service!

Your weather station is integrated into a network of thousands of weather stations worldwide, which measurements are used by Weather Underground to make accurate weather forecasts the world over. 

And that's it! Your setup is now complete and you can start enjoying your new weather station.

You can find more information and pricing on the Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey here.

Performance, Quality And Accuracy

Which brings us to the all important questions. How well does the Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey perform? Does its quality stand up, and how accurate is its readings?

Well, luckily there is good news on all fronts. I may have already touched on some highlights, but here is a more thorough report...

Quality

As already mentioned at the start of this post, the thorough and secure packaging was already a very positive indication of what to expect. This was confirmed by both the look and feel of the different components as I unpacked and assembled them.

Ambient Weather WS2902 Finished Assembly

The whole assembly feels very sturdy, with the plastics having a high quality feel to them. Everything fitted securely and after assembly, the completed sensor array really feels like it can stand up to some rough weather. (Obviously it will not necessarily survive a Category 5 hurricane. But then again, neither will much of the house it is attached to...)

Similarly, the display console feels solid with all the onscreen readings and icons logically laid out. It has 3 brightness adjustments settings (bright, dim, off). With your AC Adapter connected you can make use of all three settings.

The display console screen is bright and easily readable from directly in front or slightly above the unit. Its viewing angle is bit limited though, which means readability becomes a bit difficult when nor directly in front of the console.

This is not a real issue for me though, as you can just move slightly to get a better viewing angle. Also when you spend more time, taking readings and doing some analysis, you will probably be doing it from your laptop or mobile device's online hub & dashboard.

Both of them (Ambient Weather or Weather Underground's onscreen consoles) have all the real-time information the console has, plus all the extra tools for some more in-depth weather analysis and research.

After assembled and positioned in place, the sensor assembly sits firmly in place with all moving parts going about their business quietly and efficiently.

Obviously over the coming years, I will have a better impression of how well everything is holding up. Judging from feedback I got from users who had the same station for over a year, I am not foreseeing any problems   

Performance And Accuracy

Performance

During installation, I was setting aside some time for the sensor array and display console to synchronize. (From past experiences I knew this can a while.)

Ambient Weather Display Console

This turned out to be unnecessary, as both devices connected to each in less than a minute after being switched on. The display console started displaying the data it receives from the sensor array within seconds, after which it stayed continuously updated every 16 seconds (which is the set period for the sensor array to wait between sending the latest data).

Even after moving the display console around several times after installation, the devices stayed synchronize and updated. This is very impressive.

What is even more impressive, is the consistency with which the online services from Ambient.net and Wunderground.com are keeping the online dashboards and timeline graphs updated. (The Ambient Tool can be used to set the weather console to send updates with intervals ranging from 1-5 seconds via wifi to the selected online hub.)

Accuracy

The first thing I did after my sensor array and display console synchronised (and giving it a few hours to stabilize in and the measurements to settle into a rhythm), was to start comparing my readings with my other personal weather systems and online weather services able to provide me with accurate readings from my location.

Ambient Weather WS2902 Installed

I was extremely impressed by the results to put it mildly. The measurements are extremely accurate. They varied a bit more compared to my other (admittedly older and less sophisticated) weather stations, but not by much.

Compared to the professional online weather services for my area though, its measurements are almost 100% percent accurate. (There are some variation of between 0.2-0.5 °C in temperature and sometimes slightly bigger margins when it comes to humidity, but these are negligible differences and can simply be attributed to very localised differences in conditions.)

More importantly, the weather tendencies recorded by the WS-2902A Osprey very closely mirrors that of all local online weather services. A close eye will be kept on these weather tendencies over the coming months and years, and how they compare with professional weather forecasts.  

All in all, the WS-2902A Osprey really lives up to its reputation as a very accurate home weather station.

You can find more information and pricing on the Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey here.

Conclusion

From installation to giving you an objective impression, it should have become very clear that I am very impressed and satisfied with the Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey.

Maybe part reason I am so impressed and satisfied, is that many products are really overhyped, especially online. Whenever you do research on any product, reading reviews is almost like reading a series of "copy & paste" articles, all saying almost exactly the same thing. (I guess many of them are sponsored).

Either way, one gets so used to be underwhelmed, that it's really refreshing to find something that doesn't just live up to expectations but surpasses it. The Ambient Weather WS-2902A Osprey is definitely one such product.

If you didn't read the whole article, here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of the Osprey which I feel is relevant for any potential user: 

ADVANTAGES

Excellent Documentation & Support

Quality Design & Construction

Comprehensive Sensor Array

Accurate Measurement & Forecasting

Advanced Online Data Collection & Display

Solar Powered (Limits Battery Usage)

DISADVANTAGES

Too Advanced For The Beginner

Limited Viewing Angle (Display Console)

 

 

 

    

Somewhere in the future, I may look at adding the Davis Vantage Pro to get some of the most accurate and consistent readings available on the market. Before even considering it, however, it needs to be updated with a modern color display console and includes WiFi and Internet integration as standard. You can read my impressions of the Davis Vantage Pro here.

Feel free to leave me any comments, questions or suggestions, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Remember to join my  Mailing List  to be informed whenever a new article is released, and share new developments and helpful hints & tips.

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

Wessel


How Far Ahead Weather Can Accurately Be Forecasted

How Far Ahead Can You Forecast The Weather

Readers will more than welcome the ability of weather bureaus to make forecasts up to a month in advance. Unfortunately, this is not possible. Not yet. But how far ahead can a weather forecast be made?

There is absolutely no doubt that today's weather forecasts are vastly improved and more accurate & reliable than those from thirty years ago. And it continues to improve.

A wealth of historical data, better forecast models, a vast array of atmospheric sensors (on and above the Earth), and technological advances are all making remarkably precise weather predictions possible. 

Even with all these advancements, there are still limitations on how far weather conditions can be forecasted or predicted in advance.

How Far Ahead The Weather Can Accurately Be Forecasted

The weather can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy up to five days in advance. The vast majority of meteorologists agree on this period, and some weather experts even feel confident that weather tendencies can be forecasted with a fair amount of accuracy for up to ten days in advance.

But there are limitations. Not so much in the accuracy, but more in the length of time weather can be predicted into the future. Not so long ago, a popular weather service (who will remain nameless) widely used on mobile devices around the world started issuing 90-day weather forecasts!

Needless to say, this move caused widespread shock and unanimous condemnation among meteorologists and climatologists alike. And with very good reason...

No matter how far and advanced weather predictions have become, there are simply too many variables influencing current and future weather conditions to make these extreme long-term forecasts accurate or even possible. These variables can appear or change in a very short time and, in many instances, are impossible to predict.

To understand why forecasting weather over a period of a month or more is not just unrealistic, but for all intents and purposes basically impossible, we need to look at some of the elements that can unexpectedly change weather conditions in a short period of time. 

Why Long-Term Forecasts Are So Difficult

Forecasting weather more than 10 days into the future is seen by many weather experts as a calculated guess at best. There several factors making long-term predictions very tricky.

1) Different Forecasting Models

The first factor is a simple question of who you want to believe. If you are not a weather enthusiast, you probably are not aware that there are two major weather forecasting models many meteorologists rely on to track and forecast weather conditions: The European and American Weather Forecasting Models. 

Both models use a wealth of historical and current weather data from around the world that are inputted into their weather models. However, the 2 models use different algorithms to process the data and calculate future weather conditions.

European and American Model

The European Model has always been seen as slightly superior and the more accurate of the two models. When the two models agree on the weather outcome, it's a positive reinforcement for all involved.

It is when the two models predict substantially different weather conditions that some controversy and difficulties arise. Every meteorologist has their own preference as to which model they trust. And completely relying on the wrong model can have far-reaching results. 

(In 2012, the American Model forecasted that Hurricane Sandy would die down over the ocean, while the European Model predicted it would hit the East Coast. We are all too aware of the devastation and loss of life as a result of Sandy slamming into the American Coastline.)

This is not to say that one model is always superior to another one. It just goes to show that things are not as simple as it seems.

Then we still have to deal with the "Biggest Culprit" influencing weather forecasts... 

2) The Chaotic Nature Of The Weather

The earth's atmosphere and the weather systems operating within it is just naturally chaotic and unpredictable. In other words, meteorologists are constantly trying to predict something that is, for all intents and purposes, unpredictable.

Chaotic Weather

We have more weather satellites with better imagery sensors orbiting the earth than ever before. We have access to a wealth of historical and current data, and computers able to perform millions of calculations per second (more than a 2.89 quadrillion to be a bit more precise) to process all this data. So yes, weather forecasts have become very accurate and reliable.

But there are just too many small undetectable variables that can have a huge impact on the weather over the long term.

Just bear with me as I use the following analogy to explain it properly...

Most of you would have heard of the Butterfly Effect. But I will bet most of you don't know where the term originated from...

In 1961, after inputting a very small miscalculation into a weather model and realizing how big a difference it made to the forecasted weather, meteorologist Edward Lorenz noted in a paper that "one flap of a seagull’s wings could change the course of weather forever."

Over time this morphed into the now well-known "Butterfly Effect"

Ok, long story short, the smallest little weather phenomenon (like the slightest change in wind direction or a small drop in temperature) that will not even be able to be picked up by a weather sensor can have a ripple effect and end up in large-scale weather events in the future.

And like a ripple growing larger in a pond, the further it stretches over time, the bigger its effect on the weather. This analogy will help you better understand why short-term weather forecasts are much more accurate than trying to predict weather conditions in a month's time.

Are you still with me? Good! 

3) Other Factors Influencing Long-Term Predictions

Apart from the 2 previously mentioned factors that make long-term weather forecasts (e.g. 30-day or 90-day forecast) unreliable and inaccurate, there are weather variables and phenomena which behavior may unexpectedly change or not change.

This can lead to weather conditions that differ substantially from what a long-term weather forecast may suggest. Here is just a few examples:

Temperature

Temperature has a huge impact on the weather and sometimes are the main driving force of large weather systems. We are very unaware of the amount of weather element influence the temperature around us. We see a clear, cloud-free day and immediately think of warmer temperatures.

There are dozens of unpredictable forces influencing the weather around us though. For example, a solar flare at the sun's surface millions of miles away, can cause the surface of part of the ocean to rise by a fraction of a degree.

This seemingly insignificant change is big enough to completely change weather systems and their forecasted behavior in the affected region. It may cause weather conditions to die away or intensify and become much more severe.

There is obviously a lot more complex processes involved in the changes of temperature, but this is just one example of how one unpredictable event can make long-term forecasts almost impossible by changing one of its biggest driving forces, temperature.

Air Movement (Wind)

Wind, also a major driver of major weather systems, is influenced to a large extend by temperature. And as we have just seen, the temperature can be very fickle and at the mercy of many unpredictable forces.

As a result, wind patterns can be unexpectedly influenced to a smaller or larger extent. 

Wind

At the convergence of ocean and land, offshore and onshore winds may change, causing approaching weather systems to reach land or stay over the ocean.

In more severe cases, the additional heat over the surface temperature of the ocean water in the Tropics may cause a tropical depression to strengthen to a tropical storm or even a hurricane due to the increase in wind speed.

Almost all of these events just mentioned would have been completely "ignored" by long-term weather forecasts that were issued long before the unexpected change in wind direction and speed even occurred. 

Global Warming

Yes, this is a very controversial topic, but I trust if you are reading this article, you don't need to be convinced of the dangers and devastating consequences it poses. (We are already seeing its impact during recent years in ever-increasing extreme weather events.)

Apart from the physical evidence we see on a yearly basis, global warming is also making consistent long-term forecasts very difficult. It is impacting the weather on so many levels that I am just going to highlight one prominent weather phenomenon to illustrate the point: Jet Streams.

As mentioned in an earlier article (which you can read here), Jet Streams are long narrow bands of high-speed speed winds, circulating the earth at high altitudes.

The 2 Jet Streams at the North and South Pole respectively, have a huge impact on global weather patterns. They don't flow in a straight line, but rather in a meandering way with high and low points, resulting in warm, cold, dry, and wet weather as they interact with different weather systems and the earth's surface below them.

Global Warming at both Poles (which is resulting in the breaking up of the ice caps and warmer ocean water temperature), is having a huge influence on the 2 Jet Streams above them.

A notable weakening of these winds, as well the development of a wobble in the flow, are two disturbing patterns that is a result of this influence. The wobble in the flow is having a severe and prolonged impact on the regions they effects, causing severe conditions like cold snaps, heatwaves, and flooding.

These weather conditions are very unpredictable, and making weather forecasts, especially long-term predictions, very difficult for meteorologists. And these occurrences are getting more common and widespread globally.

So How Far Ahead Can Weather Be Accurately Predicted

So how far ahead can weather then be realistically be predicted. It depends to a large extent how accurate a weather forecast you want to get.

5 day weather forecast

As already stated at the beginning of the article, meteorologists agree that weather can be predicted with a relatively high degree of accuracy for up to five days into the future. Most weather experts even feel confident that weather tendencies can be forecasted to a certain degree of accuracy for up to ten days in advance.

Emphasis should be placed on the fact that the latter "forecast" this far into the future should be seen as a prediction into the "weather tendency or direction" rather than actual weather conditions during this period. 

As already stated, the weather can be predicted with much more accuracy today than 20 years ago, which in turn was much more accurate than the previous 20 years. And it will keep on improving, but incrementally and mostly in accuracy, not so much in length of time.

For example, today, we can make a 5-day weather forecast with the same amount of accuracy a 3-day forecast was made in the 1990s. Similarly, we can make a fairly accurate prediction of future weather tendencies up to 10 days in advance, compared to a maximum of a week in the early 1980s.

Conclusion

Ok, as you can clearly see, predicting the weather is not as simple as you might have thought. It is literally taking millions of bits of data from weather stations around the world, buoys in the ocean, satellites in the sky, and combining that with historical data to be fed into complex weather forecasting system to give us surprisingly accurate forecasts.

Do they get it wrong? Off course. But this is not due to bad weather forecasting, but mostly due to unforeseen events, some of which I highlighted in this article. Rest assured, weather forecasting keeps on improving, and we are way better off than a few decades ago!

However, making bold predictions far into the future is a horse of a different color altogether. The "dark art" of trying to forecast the weather a month in advance (or 90 days in some weather service's case) is a very risky business and a bit ambitious at best.

I went to great lengths throughout this post to highlight all the different factors that make it almost impossible to accurately forecast weather over such a long period.

At some point in the future, we may be able to detect and include many of these "unpredictable events" into our forecasting models, but we still have a long way to go.

So no, as much as I love and encourage everyone to get their own home weather station, they will NOT be able to tell you how to dress 3 months from now...

Never miss out again when another interesting and helpful article is released and stay updated, while also receiving helpful tips & information by simply  clicking on this link .

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

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11 Weather Terms And Phenomena You Should Know And Understand

11 Weather Terms Heading

For more than half a century, weather forecasts have helped us to plan for future weather conditions. However, eleven meteorological terms are especially useful to make the most sense of these forecasts.

  1. 1
    Low & High Pressure Systems
  2. 2
    Cold Fronts
  3. 3
    Warm Fronts
  4. 4
    Jet Streams
  5. 5
    Severe Weather
  6. 6
    Thunderstorms
  7. 7
    Dry Spells
  8. 8
    Wind Chill
  9. 9
    Heatwaves
  10. 10
    Tornadoes
  11. 11
    Climate Change

It is important to get to know and better understand these terms, as it will help you gain an even better understanding of how and why we are affected by different weather conditions.

Especially if you have your own personal weather station or are a weather enthusiast keen on better understanding how everything fits together, the following information will be especially useful.

We are going to discuss the 11 terms listed in more detail since they make up some of the most important and relevant weather terms and weather phenomena. 

We start with some weather terms some of you may already be familiar with:

1) Low & High Pressure Systems

Low & high-pressure systems are probably one of the most well-known and widely-used terms in meteorology. We first need to understand what air pressure is before we can delve into low and high-pressure systems.

Air Pressure

Air pressure is defined as the weight of the air molecules in a specific space pushing down on the surface below as a result of the Earth's gravity. 

It can be seen as the number of molecules present in a certain volume of air at any given moment or a specific period of time.

Air pressure is created in a variety of different processes, which in turn leads to different changes in weather. This leads us to low and high-pressure systems.

What Is A Low-Pressure System?

Low Pressure System

A low-pressure system is defined as a specific area where the weight of the air (or amount of molecules present in this volume of air) is lower than that of the air in the surrounding areas.

The process through which a low-pressure system is formed is called cyclogenesis, which is the umbrella term for the different circulation processes involved in the formation of a low-pressure system.

(We don't need to look at all of them for the purpose of this article, though. Just know that the term "cyclogenesis" is representative of all these different processes.)

Development

For a low-pressure system to form, certain elements must be placed to cause a drop in air pressure. A low-pressure system is normally formed as a result of 2 different processes:

  1. Wind Divergence Aloft
  2. Thermal Lows
1) Wind Divergence Aloft

Wind Divergence Aloft causes the air in the upper troposphere to move in opposite directions, creating a suction effect that allows the air at the surface to start lifting.

(The effect counteracts the laws of gravity by creating a vacuum in the upper troposphere, which makes the lifting of the heavier surface air possible).

Low-pressure systems that are formed as a result of this effect mainly take place in 2 places:

  1. To the east of upper troughs (Which normally have long wavelengths)
  2. In front of shortwave troughs
2) Thermal Lows

Many of you familiar with tropical depressions (and the resulting tropical storms, hurricanes, cyclones, etc.) will be familiar with the way in which these low-pressure systems are formed.

As the surface of our oceans and landmasses are warmed up by the sun, it causes the air above it to heat up as well. The warmer air starts to rise, leaving less air at the surface, which causes a low-pressure system to occur as a result.

Characteristics Of A Low-Pressure System

Low-pressure systems are almost always associated with cloudy and rainy weather. (You only need to look at any weather forecast to notice how often a low-pressure system is mentioned in the same breath as cloudy & rainy conditions.) There is a good reason for this.

As the air above the low-pressure system continues to rise, it starts to cool down. As the moisture-carrying air cools down, condensation and cloud formation takes place, which normally results in precipitation.

As air normally flows from an area of high-pressure to low-pressure, winds tend to blow inwards towards the area of low pressure.

This inward circulation of air is influenced by the earth's rotation. This effect is more commonly known as the Coriolis Effect. As a result, the winds rotate clockwise around a low-pressure system in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise around a low-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere. (Also referred to as cyclonic flow.)

What Is A High-Pressure System?

A high-pressure system can be defined as a body of air which weight (or amount of molecules present in the volume of air) is more than that of the air in the surrounding areas.

Development

High Pressure System

In many ways, a high-pressure system and its development can be seen as the direct opposite of a low-pressure system. This is especially evident in the way it is formed...

Warm air that has risen from the equator cools down, and the resulting precipitation dries out the air, which then starts moving towards the poles.

The cold, dry air from the upper troposphere starts descending (as the cooler air weights more than the surrounding warmer air). The air converges at the top of the high-pressure system, strengthening the descend of the cooler air.

As the cool air continues to descend, it starts compressing as well as it nears the surface level. This results in a high-pressure system forming where the descending air reaches the surface center of the weather system. 

Characteristics Of A High-Pressure System

Low-pressure systems are normally associated with clear sunny weather and light surface winds. (The cool, dry air, combined with the air heating up as it descends, prohibits any formation of clouds and precipitation.)

As air always moves from an area of high pressure to low pressure, winds blow outwards and away from the center of the high-pressure system.

Just like low-pressure systems, the winds rotating around a high-pressure system are influenced by the Coriolis Effect (caused by the rotational spin of the earth).

Unlike low-pressure systems, though, the winds rotate in a clockwise direction around high-pressure-systems in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

2) Cold Fronts

A cold front occurs when the leading edge of a mass of cold air moves into a region of warmer air. The boundary between these two air masses is called a cold front. A cold front is normally associated with wet and stormy weather conditions.

Cold Front

This characteristic stormy weather that accompanies a cold front is a direct result of the "collision" between the 2 air masses. As the edge of this fast-moving cold air mass reaches the warmer air, the cold (and heavier) air undercuts and starts lifting the warmer (lighter) air up into the atmosphere.

As the warm air is lifted, it starts to cool down, causing the moisture in the air to start forming micro-droplets as a result of condensation. If enough moisture is present in the rising air, this will lead to cloud formation and precipitation.

Please note that this is a very broad description of a cold front. For example, a cold front that meets and lifts a body of warm air that carries little or no moisture may not display any of the normal characteristics associated with a cold front (e.g. rain, clouds, and wind).

Many different weather systems can be responsible for a cold front to form. We will discuss this in more detail in another article.

3) Warm Fronts

A warm front occurs when the leading edge of a mass of warm air moves into a region of colder air. The boundary where these two air masses meet is called a warm front. 

A warm front is normally associated with slow-moving stratus-type clouds producing light rains for a sustained period of time. (Similar to a stationary front.)

As the warm air cannot replace the denser and heavier body of colder air, it is forced to rise and move over the boundary of the colder air mass. This process is called overrunning.

Warm Front

If there is enough moisture in the air (which is not always the case), the rising warm air will start to cool down as it moves up and over the mass of cold air. As a result, condensation and cloud formation will occur, which normally produces sustained light rain, often followed by a light drizzle later on.

As a warm front moves much slower than the more disruptive cold front, the weather changes associated with it are also more prolonged and not that severe. It is normally preceded by high forming clouds that slowly get replaced by lower cloud formations as the warm approaches.

The actual arrival of the warm front is normally accompanied by a sudden drop in air pressure. The light rain previously mentioned normally arrives with the cold front, and as the front passes over, it turns into a light drizzle.

As in the case of a cold front, the conditions described above are fairly broad characteristics of weather normally associated with a warm front. (As a result, a variety of different weather conditions can occur due to specific characteristics of a warm front, as well as the part of the word it occurs in.)

4) Jet Streams

Jet streams are defined as long narrow bands of strong winds, blowing at high velocities above the earth's surface, normally found in the upper troposphere at heights of 9 to 16 kilometers (30 000–52 000 feet) above sea level.

There are 4 major jet streams present above the earth's surface, and they all have a huge influence on the global climate and the formation of various weather systems.

The 2 strongest jet streams are found at the south and north pole, respectively, at heights of 9–12 kilometers (30 000–39 000 feet). The 2 weaker subtropical jet streams occur at a height of 10–16 kilometers (33 000–52 000 feet).

Jet streams are mainly formed as a result of 2 processes.

  1. Solar Radiation (the heating up of the atmosphere) resulting in the influential Hadley, Polar, and Ferrel circulation cells
  2. The Coriolis Effect (a result of the earth's rotation, affecting global air movement)

Not always moving in a straight line, but rather in a more meandering manner, as it moves between areas of hot and cold air, jet streams form a boundary between these pockets of warmer and colder air. 

Jet streams are also influenced to a large extend by the difference in temperature between these areas of hot and cold air. A bigger difference in temperature between the warmer and colder air masses will result in a substantial increase in the velocity at which the jet stream is traveling.

Jet streams are especially important to the aviation industry and closely monitored by major players in the industry. Using jet streams flowing in the same direction a plane is traveling in is beneficial for saving fuel & reaching a destination on time (or making up lost time). 

(Get it wrong, however, and airlines may end up with their planes flying directly into an opposing jet stream flow, leading to additional fuel being used and flights potentially arriving late at their destination.)

5) Severe Weather

Severe weather refers to any meteorological phenomena that are dangerous and potentially destructive. This can lead to severe damage, disruption of large areas of infrastructure, and even loss of life. This includes thunderstorms & lightning, hail, heavy rain & flooding, tornadoes, and severe wind conditions.

thunderstorm

Depending on where on the planet you are situated, you will be affected by severe weather conditions that are common to that specific region.

For example, areas in India may be very susceptible to flash flooding due to the seasonal summer monsoon bringing with it huge amounts of rainfall.

Similarly, if you live in Tornado Alley (the area found in the Great Plains of the Central United States), you are more likely to suffer the devastating effects of tornadoes forming during the spring and summer months. 

No matter where you find yourself, it is always important to pay attention whenever severe weather condition warnings are issued. You and your family's life may literally depend on it.

6) Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms are violent and fairly short-lived disturbances in the atmospheric conditions, normally associated with lightning and thunder, strong winds, heavy rains, and even hail. They are normally associated with & a result of a sudden buildup of cumulonimbus clouds.

For thunderstorms to occur, three key ingredients need to be present:

  1. Moisture
  2. A Lifting Mechanism (normally in the form of heat)
  3. An Unstable Rising Air Mass

With these 3 ingredients present, a thunderstorm will go through three phases of development to complete the process:

  1. Developing (Cumulus) Stage: Warm air with low pressure at the surface starts to rise. As it continues to rise, it cools down, and the moisture in the air condenses and form micro-droplets. If the air is unstable enough and continues to rise, it leads to the formation of cumulus clouds. Through a process of convection, the air is driven higher into the atmosphere by updrafts, creating a low-pressure zone.
  2. Mature Stage: The air continues rising until it reaches a region of warmer air, which stops it from rising any further. It starts spreading out horizontally, and large amounts of moisture combine to form large droplets. As they start falling, they cause downdrafts, which, combined with the updrafts, result in the formation of cumulonimbus clouds. This causes severe internal disturbances within the clouds, resulting in the severe conditions we commonly associate with thunderstorms.
  3. Dissipating Stage: At this stage, a process called a downburst can occur as the downdrafts overwhelm any more updrafts and air inflow into the thunderstorm. This process happens very rapidly as this downburst carries air quickly to the ground and then spreads out, after which the thunderstorm starts to dissipate relatively quickly.

You also get more than one kind of thunderstorm. Single-cell, multi-cell clusters, and Supercells are just a few well-known examples. (We will discuss these different types of thunderstorms in a separate article.)

There is one more important fact to take note of. Even though most thunderstorms look violent and spectacular, in order for them to be officially classified as severe thunderstorms, they need to fulfill the following criteria:

  • Wind speeds of at least 93 kilometers per hour (58 mph)
  • Hail with a diameter of 25 millimeters (1 inch)
  • The presence of tornadoes

7. Dry Spells (As Opposed To A Drought)

A dry spell can be defined as a sustained period of dry weather with lower water and soil moisture levels due to a lack of rainfall. A region with significant lower rainfall figures during its rainy season compared to previous seasons can be regarded as experiencing a dry spell.

Dry Spell

A dry spell should not be confused with a drought, however. There are much debate and confusion about the difference between the two, and depending on which region you find yourself on the planet, definitions may vary.

In general, a dry spell does not last as long as a drought. Although it puts a strain on natural resources, especially in the agricultural sector,  it normally does not pose an immediate threat to human or animal life.

A drought, on the other hand, is a much serious condition with severe consequences. Probably the most important feature setting it apart from a dry spell is the length of time over which it occurs.

It can last over a multiple series of dry spells, sometimes taking years or decades to fully develop. The results are normally devastating. Water and resources depending on the water can be completely depleted.

Often this results in the destruction of the agricultural sector, the lifeblood of any country region. This will directly threaten the livelihood of the region's inhabitants and cripple the sustainability of all processes necessary for growth and survival.

As a result, one should be very careful to refer to sustained dry spells putting a strain on any region for a period of time as a drought.

(Something the news media is sometimes quick to jump on for dramatic effect, often causing undue panic in the process.) They may have similarities but are very different in their extent and level of seriousness.

8) Wind Chill

Wind chill (or wind chill factor) refers to the phenomena where you experience temperatures around you as much colder than it actually is due to the presence of wind. It is caused by wind blowing surrounding cold air against you, causing you to perceive temperatures as colder than it actually is.

You are experiencing the temperature to be that much colder because your body's natural heat creates a layer of warm air around your skin to provide a form of insulation from the surrounding cold air. Wind blowing against your skin, however, removes this insulation layer, making you experience the temperature to be much colder.

When you hear or read the term "feels like..." next to the temperature given, it refers to the wind chill "temperature" in case you were wondering.

9) Heatwaves

A heatwave refers to a period of prolonged exceptionally hot weather, often accompanied by high humidity levels. It is often determined when compared to the hottest average temperatures from the region during the same period measured during previous seasons.

heat wave

The precise definition differs between different regions and different weather services. Sometimes this can lead to much confusion. (For example, in certain parts of Australia, a heatwave is defined by 5 consecutive days of temperatures exceeding  35 °Celsius (95 °Fahrenheit) or 3 consecutive days of temperature exceeding 40 °Celsius (104 °Fahrenheit).

The South African Weather Service again, define a heat wave as the maximum temperature in a specific area to be 5 °Celsius hotter than the average maximum temperature of the hottest month of that specific area for at least 3 consecutive days.)

As you would have noted from the 2 samples above, definitions can vary widely from one region to another. Rather than relying on specific numbers, the definition highlighted in bold at the start of this section should be considered to be a more accurate determination of a heatwave in your area.

Heatwaves are a result of the formation and strengthening of high-pressure systems in the upper atmosphere (3 000–7 600 meters or 10 000–25 000 feet). As weather patterns move much slower during the summer months compared to winter months, they tend to linger over a specific area much longer.

The air under the high-pressure system dries and warms as it is forced down and sinks towards the surface. This, in turn, forms an inversion layer, preventing convection from taking place and trapping the hot, humid air beneath it.

You can learn more about a heatwave in this article.

10) Tornadoes

A tornado is a funnel-shaped, rapidly rotating moving column of air. They normally form at the base of cumulonimbus clouds and can cause various degrees of damage, depending on the wind speeds' scale and strength. 

tornado

Tornadoes are classified on a scale from F0 (the weakest form doing minimal damage) to F5 (the strongest form of the system able to rip houses clean off their foundation and do significant damage to infrastructures).

Wind speeds are normally around 180 km/h (110 mph) or less, but in Category F5 storms, wind speeds of over 450 km/m (300 mph) can be reached with catastrophic consequences. Tornadoes are also around 250 meters (80 feet) in diameter but can be as big as 3 kilometers (2 miles).

Tornadoes are formed due to a convergence of downdrafts and updrafts below a cloud base, which starts the rotating air movement. As the updrafts intensify, it causes an area of intense low pressure, which is pulled to the surface.

This results in the familiar funnel cloud with the section reaching the surface containing strong updrafts and high wind speeds, leading to severe damage often associated with strong tornadoes.

You can find in-depth information about tornadoes in this article.

11) Climate Change

As you will be very well aware, Climate Change is a very controversial topic and a subject for a whole series of articles on its own. Since it has been widely used over the past few decades in the same breath as global warming (with its different causes and its effect on the environment and the planet as a whole), an explanation of this term is warranted.

In a nutshell, climate change refers to the changes in the state of the earth's atmosphere over a period of at least 3 decades and more. This includes global temperature changes, the flow of our oceans' currents, and rainfall, to mention a few variables.

Climate change has gone through natural cycles of Global Warming and Ice Ages through millions of years during the earth's history.

What makes Climate Change that much more relevant and important to us is the unnaturally accelerated pace at which it is taking place now and the close ties with human intervention and the impact on the environment since the Industrial Revolution and our continued release of fossil fuels and gasses into the atmosphere.

But this is a topic for a whole other conversation.

Conclusion

11 Very important weather terms were addressed in this article. Hopefully, this will clear up many elements of the weather you were unfamiliar with.

You will note that some terminologies received a lot more attention and got explained in more detail than others. Those were the terms I regard as important to understand and will help you to better understand many other weather terms and occurrences.

Never miss out again when another interesting and helpful article is released and stay updated, while also receiving helpful tips & information by simply  following this link .

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

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Choosing Your First Personal Weather Station – 3 Ideal Starter Systems

Your First Weather Station heading

So you finally decided to not just rely on the weather forecast anymore and take control of your personal weather by obtaining your own weather station. Good on you! But where do you start and what do you look out for?

To be honest I am actually excited for you, and a little jealous. My first little weather station, now about 20 years old (pictured left), really sparked my interest and my passion and thirst for understanding the weather. Getting to know how it worked and actually reflected actual weather conditions was a whole new adventure.

To be honest, I didn't really know exactly what I was buying back then. The 2 different temperatures being displayed (found out it is inside and outside temperature), the bar with different heights running from left to right look very cool. (Which is the bar indicating the barometric pressure over time). I won't go on about all the other the other features, but you get the idea.

Ok, back to reality. Personally, I really don't think it's necessary to go all out and get a complete weather system with and array of outside sensors, with a wireless connection to your base station, which logs to up to a year's data and connects to your wifi router.

So what you should you be looking?

A basic standalone unit and a simple outside sensor. Even basic personal personal weather stations come with more than you really need to get started and familiarize yourself with how everything works.

There are 3 weather elements your weather station should be able to measure:

  1. Inside Temperature (and outside temperature on your remote sensor)
  2. Air Pressure (barometric pressure with a build-in barometer)
  3. Humidity (moisture in the air measured by a hygrometer)

If you have access to these 3 important measurements, you will be able to learn how these readings correlates with the accompanying weather. Paying attention to them will help you to quickly learn and understand how they are able to reflect current and feature weather conditions.

The majority of home weather stations comes with a forecasting abilities (sun, cloud & sun, cloud, cloud & rain icons etc.) which is a result of the the units build-in algorithms and calculations based on the data it gets from the different sensor.

You don't need to blindly rely on these "forecasts". If they are fairly accurate though, it is a great way to start making your own forecasts as you learn to read the measurements and see how close you get to judging the weather correctly.

Right, lets get to the actual weather station. Keeping in mind that this will probably be your first personal weather station, I examined 3 systems that are very reasonably priced and got all the necessary basic functions built-in to give you a proper start. 

All 3 of them gave surprisingly accurate readings, are very user-friendly and have a decent quality design. In order of functionality and price, they are:

  1. La Crosse Technology 308-1425B
  2. Ambient Weather WS-2801
  3. AcuRite 00589

Depending on your needs, one may be more suitable than the others. Don't expect all the bells & whistles from advanced systems that are more than double the price or more. But in all honesty, you don't need all these extras to start with. The features and functions of these 3 devices are more than you need to start out with, and will probably keep you busy and interested for quite some time.

Lets take a closer look at each one in more detail:

La Crosse Technology 308-1425B

La Crosse is a  company dedicated to producing weather products and has been doing this for more than 30 years. From producing basic thermometers to advanced home weather systems, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see that they know a thing or two about weather instruments.

As with both other systems in this review, it comes with an indoor base station, as well as an outdoor sensor. All 3 crucial weather variables during my introduction (temperature, air pressure, humidity), are measured by the La Crosse.

Here is a quick summary of the most important features:

  • Inside Temperature (Inside & Outside)
  • Humidity (Inside & Outside)
  • Barometric Pressure
  • 12 Hour Forecast with forecast tendency indicator
  • Air pressure trend indicator
  • 12/24 Hour atomic time & date

The base station has a large easy-to-read display. Some of the buttons are on the back of the display, which may make adjustments a bit tricky. If you don't need to access these buttons frequently though, this should not be an issue.

Performance is surprisingly good for a weather station within this price range. To test the accuracy of the outside sensor and base station, both were placed together. All readings were very closely matched. Temperature readings had a maximum difference of 2 degrees between the 2 units, which is more than acceptable for measurement and forecasting.

la crosse sensor

All major weather measurements are prominently displayed, which makes taking quick readings easy. It also has animated weather forecasting icons which include a forecasting tendency indicator which I find very useful. (Remember to try and make your own forecasts and compare it with the weather station's forecasts!)

A useful feature, is the ability to measure humidity below 19%. (If you are living in a dry region this ability is quite useful. I am mentioning this as some other weather stations and some of La Crosse's smaller weather stations don't measure humidity this low.)  

As this weather station is a basic unit aimed at the beginner, is doesn't have extra measuring capabilities like wind speed, wind direction and rainfall. From personal experience I can testify that you don't need these extras to start out with. For almost 10 years I used my "old" trusty unit that just measured the "Big Three" (temperature, humidity and air pressure) and it kept me busy for quite some time.

A highly recommended starter weather system with good accuracy and a great feature set at a very affordable price.

You can get more information and pricing on the La Crosse Technology 308-1425B here.

Ambient Weather WS-2801

Ambient Weather WS 2801

Ambient Weather is seen by many as the market leader for home weather stations by many users, especially for the more serious weather enthusiast. (Not so sure what Davis Instruments will have to say about that, but that is a topic for another discussion).

The WS-2801 is another solid product from the company. Not only does it measure the 3 key weather elements (temperature, air pressure, humidity). It also incorporates memory for min/max temperature & humidity display and support for up to 3 separate outdoor sensors.

Additionally, it claims a fairly accurate 24-48 hour weather forecast ability. (More on this a little later.)

This weather station does not have all the extra feaures of some other similarly priced competitors, but does what it promises very well. It offers the important basics, and focus on quality and accuracy.

It does offer all the important features you need though, plus a couple of extras which include:

  • Inside Temperature (Inside & Outside)
  • Humidity (Inside & Outside)
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Air pressure trend indicator
  • 24-48 Hour Forecast with forecast tendency indicator
  • Min/Max memory for temperature & humidity
  • -40°F - 140°F Outside temperature range (with lithium batteries)

The base station's display is clear and easy to read. It also had 3 adjustable levels of brightness when plugged in. (It uses the 2 lower brightness settings and the screen turns off after a few seconds when not plugged in and the backup batteries are used.)

As to be expected from a weather station aimed at the more serious user, the build quality is very good. I also found the ability to calibrate the device very useful for getting more accurate readings.

I didn't find the need, but the ability to support 3 outside sensors is very useful for users who live on a large property, or need to take measurements at different locations to get a more accurate picture of weather conditions.

(Just remember to have your outside sensors close to the base unit when installing to allow them to synchronize with each other. After syncing you can always move them outside or as far away as you are still able to receive their signals)

ambient sensor

Just a quick word on the 24/48 weather forecast claim. This is not a big issue, but please don't rely on the weather station to give you an accurate 48 hour forecast. I couldn't confirm or disprove these claims yet, but that's not the point. The capabilities of any personal weather station, even high-end professional home systems are limited by their sensors.

Their forecasts are made based on changes in temperature, humidity and barometric pressure. (High-end models also measure wind speed, wind direction and solar radiation, and include them in their calculation as well.)

However, weather is too complex and change too often to be accurately judged over 2 days. The sensors of any personal weather station don't have the ability to see the "Big Picture" and weather systems approaching hundreds of miles away.

This is my personal opinion and should be seen as just that, but based on years of experience and knowledge of how feature weather conditions are calculated, it's important that you should be aware of this "limitation". Professional national weather forecasting stations have the advantage of satellite images, radar imagery and weather balloons to see and detect changes in weather hundreds or more than a thousand miles away.  

Having said that, what you are getting with the Ambient Weather WS-2801, is a solid professional beginner weather station. It is a very good start into the world of weather and forecasting.  

You can get more information and pricing on the Ambient Weather WS-2801 here.

AcuRite 00589

AcuRite 00589

AcuRite is well-know consumer brand. Not so much seen as a dedicated producer of weather related products, it is sometimes not taken very seriously by weather enthusiasts.

There have been some claims of unreliable readings and poor build quality from users over the years. Some of these claims may be founded and some unfounded, but before making any judgment based on rumours and opinions, read on.

The AcuRite 00589 was designed to provide you with an easy-to-use, feature packed and intuitive personal weather station at a very affordable price. And it really does deliver plenty of bang for the buck. So does it make up for its sometimes "bad" reputation as an unreliable device with a a sub-par build quality?

Well to be honest. I was actually very pleasantly surprised. Does it look rock solid and sturdy? No, not all. To be honest, the plastic housings have a fairly cheap look and feel to them. But looks can be deceiving...

As far far as features go the AcuRite delivers more features than any of the other system tested here. Temperature, humidity and air pressure are obviously covered. Additionally, the sensor unit can measure wind speed, with the included anemometer.

A quick look at the important features of the AcuRite 00589:

  • Inside Temperature (Inside & Outside)
  • Humidity (Inside & Outside)
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Air pressure trend indicator
  • 12/24 Hour Forecast
  • Wind Speed (current, peak and average)
  • History Chart for temperature, wind speed and barometric pressure
  • High/low data (daily, monthly and all time)

Everything works right out of the box, is extremely easy to setup and use. The colour display of the base unit is bright and easy to read. It's is also very easy and quick to setup and use. My only two main criticism is that the display can be difficult to read at an angle. It is also not a real colour display, but coloured glass illuminated by the LCD display.

So, let's address the main concerns first. Quality wise I couldn't find any real fault. Although it doesn't look or feel like it is built like a tank, everything fits well together, and nothing in particular looks like it can break or fail easily.   

Problems occurring over the course of time seems to be the biggest potential problem. I couldn't judge as I didn't have the unit long enough to make a judgement, so I turned to fellow users and other long-term tests.

AcuRite sensor

It became clear very quickly that durability over time seems to be a real problem. Some users reported failure of the outside sensor unit after only 2 months. Others reported failure after a year of usage. Then there are users who were very happy and didn't report any problems.

I can also not testify as to the weather conditions the stations that failed, were subjected to. (Please note: No weather station will survive extreme temperatures with sustained gusts of hurricane level winds over time.)

After some further research, I can make the following recommendation. The weather sensor unit seems to have a limited lifespan, especially in regions experiencing extreme weather conditions. In other words, see this weather station as a feature rich unit that is easy to use, but may be need to be replaced as some point.

As far as accuracy is concerned, I got mixed results. During cold weather, very accurate measurements can be taken. When it got very hot however, the temperature readings started to become a lot less accurate. In general though, it remains in the acceptable range.  

Wind speed readings also seems to be a bit erratic. As placement is crucial for accurate wind speed measurement, make sure the anemometer is placed at least six feet above ground level, with no housing structures and trees nearby.

So is the AcuRite 00589 worth it at all? It all depends on your goals.

If you are looking for a basic reliable personal weather station you plan on keeping for some time, then you may want to give it some thought. It may last you for quite some time, but just be aware of this potential reliability issue.

If you are looking for a beginner weather station with a good feature set and ease of use, which you plan to use as a stepping stone or starting point to get you feet wet before moving up to the next level, the Focusrite will be ideal for you. (It may even last you for many years to come.)

One last remark. The 00589 is a best seller on many major online stores, so maybe many of those criticisms are mostly the exception to the rule...

You can get more information and pricing on the AcuRite 00589 here.

Conclusion

If you were looking for a good option to consider for a starter personal weather station, you now have 3 good options to choose from. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses and depending on your needs, one may be a better fit than the others for you.

With all 3 personal stations being-budget friendly, they will not break the bank. Apart from the fact that all these systems are well researched and comes highly recommended, when/if the time comes to replace them for a higher-end or different weather station, you won't be left feeling that you wasted your money on something not worth your while. 

Feel free to leave me any comments, questions or suggestions, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Remember to join my  Mailing List  to be informed whenever a new article is released, and share new developments and helpful hints & tips.

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

Wessel

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9 Ways To Predict The Weather Without A Weather Forecast Or Personal Weather Station

How To Know If Its Going To Rain heading

Most readers rely on weather forecasts to determine upcoming weather conditions. However, one can also "forecast the weather" by observing changes in atmospheric conditions and fauna and flora.

9 Ways To Predict The Weather Without A Weather Forecast

  1.  Cloud Color
  2.  Cloud Height
  3.  Cloud Type
  4.  Humidity
  5.  Changes In Vegetation
  6.  Smell
  7.  Wind
  8.  Animal Behavior 
  9.  Insect Behavior

You probably heard the stories of old people saying it is going to rain because "they can feel it in their bones." And also when your mother or aunt complained about the thousands of ants invading the house because "there is probably some rain on the way again." 

They are actually all correct, and there is an explanation for it. It is possible to tell whether significant changes in weather, especially rainfall, is on its way.

By observing your surroundings, especially specific elements of the weather, nature, and even animal behavior, you will be able to get a very good idea of how the weather will change in your vicinity in the immediate feature.

The nine elements listed above can all be excellent indicators of changes in weather. You will be able to make a surprisingly accurate forecast of how the weather will change in the coming hours by observing them. We take a close look at each one.

1) Cloud Color

One of the most visible ways of telling how the weather will react is by observing the clouds. Knowing the different types of clouds will definitely help you make more accurate assessments, and its actually not as difficult as you may think. More on that shortly. 

It is not just the different types of clouds that will determine the weather. By also observing their altitude and color, you will be able to get a good indication as to when to expect possible rainfall, as well as how heavy it may be. 

As you know, clouds are nothing more than moist air that has risen high enough to cool down, causing condensation and small raindrops to form. The amount of raindrops/moisture present in a cloud has a direct effect on its color.

Cumulonimbus Clouds

In general, the darker the cloud, the more moisture it contains. That is why rain-bearing clouds like cumulonimbus and nimbostratus clouds have a dark gray, sometimes almost a black base. This normally indicates imminent and heavy rains.

Very light-colored clouds, like cirrus clouds, normally indicate clear weather for the foreseeable future. If they form out of nowhere in an otherwise clear sky, it may indicate possible rain within 36 hours, but does not indicate any imminent rainfall, and they carry very little moisture themselves.

2) Cloud Height

The height of a cloud has two aspects to it that determine its behavior: The actual height of the cloud base (altitude) and its vertical extent.

Clouds with their bases high in the air (cirrus, cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus) are generally not associated with rain, whereas low-lying clouds are more commonly associated with rainfall. This is just a very rough indication, though.

A much clearer indication of how a cloud will behave is the extent of the cloud density. Clouds like cumulonimbus clouds with a low base in the troposphere but with a massive vertical buildup almost always indicate some kind substantial rainfall. 

In contrast, very thin clouds (clouds with a small vertical extent) are normally very unlikely to result in rainfall by themselves.

The best way to make an accurate assessment of approaching weather is by looking at the cloud color, height, and density combined. This way, you will be able to get the most complete picture of what to expect.

3) Cloud Type

Being able to identify the different types of clouds and their characteristics will make it much easier to know how a cloud formation will affect you and potentially how much or how little rain you can expect.

Lets quickly run through the list of most important cloud types, from the ones potentially producing the most rainfall, down to those producing none.

Nimbostratus

These mid to low-lying dense cloud formations are synonymous with large-scale rainfall. They are characterized by their dark color and are so dense that they can completely block out the sun. Depending on the wind speed, they can produce persistent rainfall for sustained periods of time.

Cumulonimbus Clouds

Although they have a fairly low-lying base, these clouds build up vertically to spectacular heights of up to 39 000 feet (12 000 meter). They are commonly referred to as thunderclouds and are associated with thunderstorms and very heavy rainfall. 

Due to the huge vertical buildup in these cloud systems, they contain a lot of moisture, which can lead to downpours so heavy that flash flooding can occur. Although intense, the rainfall normally doesn't last very long and normally dissipates within 20 minutes.     

Altostratus Clouds

These mid-level clouds are characterized by a large featureless blanket of clouds that can spread for thousands of square miles. (This is the cloud type that comes to mind when people talk about a typical dreary winters day).  

Altostratus clouds are normally associated with widespread light rain. Although they don't normally produce heavy rainfall by themselves, they are often seen as precursors for nimbostratus clouds.

Cumulus Clouds

Probably the most well-known (and loved) clouds around the world are the cumulus clouds. These well-defined cotton-like clouds are low-level clouds that are normally an indication of pleasant and clear weather.

Cirrus Clouds

Cirrus Clouds

Cirrus Clouds

As already mentioned, these streaky white clouds are formed higher up in the atmosphere and are considered high-level clouds as a result. They contain mostly light ice crystals and don't pose any danger of rain themselves. They are, however, often seen as indicators that rain might be expected within 36 hours.

Obviously, there are many other cloud types and sub-categories of the clouds just mentioned. They all fall within the spectrum of the 5 cloud types mentioned in this section, though, so for the sake of this article, we don't need to go into further detail.

Being able to recognize the different clouds as they approach will help you to get a better picture of what to expect in the coming hours.

You can get more detailed information about the different types of clouds and their characteristics in this article.

4) Humidity

Approaching rain is almost always preceded by an increase in humidity (the amount of moisture in the air). There are several ways you can detect an increase in humidity. You can find tell-tale signs on both your own body and in the environment around you:

  • "Damp" Feeling: It's hard to explain, but we all know the damp sensation when the air contains a large amount of moisture. The moist, sweaty feeling on our skins is another dead giveaway.
  • Changes In Hair Structure: You may start to notice that your normally smooth straight hair suddenly starts feeling a bit frizzy, which is a direct result of more moisture in the air.

There are some other less obvious indicators of a buildup of moisture in the air, but the three just mentioned are some of the most obvious and easily detectable ones.

5) Changes In Vegetation

Nature is sometimes the best possible indicator of changes in weather. The cones on pine trees automatically close to protect themselves when the air becomes moist.

The leaves of maple trees start curling. In areas with high humidity, the wood starts to swell and warp. Even smelling the flowers will help you to detect humidity. Normally the smell of flowers is more powerful as scents are much stronger in moist air.

6) Smell

Stronger Scent Of Flowers

Yes, you are reading this right. The smells in the air can give you a very good indication of approaching weather. I already touched on the strong smell of flowers and the typical "wet smell" that is associated with the rise in humidity preceding rainy weather.

There are further indicators, however, especially from nature, that present themselves in the form of strong scents that points to approaching rainy conditions:

  • Ozone: That typical smell preceding rainy weather is the smell of ozone.
  • "Compost" Smell: A smell very reminiscent of decaying compost is very evident in the air, which is a result of plants releasing their waste.
  • Swam Gasses: If you happen to live near a swamp, you may become very aware of swamp gas that the low-pressure system allows to rise and drift with the wind. (These gasses have a smell very similar to rotten eggs, so unfortunately not a very pleasant experience.)

As you start becoming more aware of these smells associated with rainy weather on a regular bases, you can actually pick up indications of changes in weather conditions without even looking or going outside.

7) Wind (Or Lack Of It)

One of the strongest indicators of approaching rain is the picking up of wind or, a change in wind direction. There is a small catch, however.The wind direction that brings with it the rain-bearing clouds, depends completely on where on the planet you are located. It means you have to know which winds are associated with rain or bad weather in your region.

In an area in the Northern Hemisphere, the wind will blow in completely the opposite direction than in an area in the Southern Hemisphere. If you have been living in a town/city for some time, you will most probably be familiar with the wind direction associated with rainfall. (Or you can find out from neighbors or older people very familiar with the region.)

Similarly, a lack of airflow (wind) very often points to approaching rain. Especially in a normally windy area, if the wind suddenly dies down and everything becomes very still, it more often than none is literally the calm before the storm. This is a direct result of the low-pressure system that moves in and pushes the normal wind patterns out of an area.

8) Animal Behavior

Ant Invasion

The behavior of animals and insects that are out of the norm can also be a clear indication of rain or stormy weather. This is because all of them have senses far superior to humans or even some instrumentation.

Thousands of years of evolution helped them to develop these lifesaving senses. They are able to pick up atmospheric changes and act long before the actual weather arrives. Here are just a few examples of animals & their behavior you can watch out for:

  • Bird Behavior: If you are living in an area with plenty of bird activity, you may already be familiar with this behavior. Very often, before rain or stormy weather arrives, bird activity dies down very quickly. As they are able to sense the approaching weather conditions long before we can, they seek shelter and stop flying around.
  • Livestock Behavior: If you live on a farm or in a rural area, you may be surprised how even more "domesticated" animals like cattle are able to pick up on an approaching storm long before there is any physical evidence. Very often, before a rainstorm arrives, you will see a herd of cattle huddle together and lie down for protection in the middle of a field.

These are behaviors that have been well documented and proven over the years and are pretty reliable indicators of approaching bad weather.

Then off course, you get quite a few unsubstantiated claims, like frogs sounding louder before a storm, and dogs eating grass.

The point is, by paying attention to how the wildlife and even some domestic animals around you suddenly change behavior, you can be provided with valuable information about approaching changes in weather conditions.

9) Insect Behavior

Insects too, can give one a good indication of upcoming weather events. Here are a few examples of insects and their behavior you can watch out for:

  • Ant Invasions: This probably one of the most well-known phenomena throughout the world. Many of you have experienced your homes being invaded with ants sometimes more than a day before heavy rains arrive.
  • Noisy crickets: There is a reason you hear crickets on hot summer nights. These cold-blooded creatures' metabolism increase as heat rises, allowing them to chirp more often than usual during warm weather. As a result, an increase in cricket noises may point towards a rise in temperatures.

Like animals, you also get some unsubstantiated claims, like spiders coming down from their nets being an indicator of rainy weather.

Conclusion

So yes, you definitely will be able to make a fairly accurate forecast of what the atmospheric conditions will be like at your location within the coming hours. As discussed, you achieve this by looking at the cloud formations, smelling the air, observing animal behavior, paying attention to the wind, and assessing the humidity.

Even better. By taking all these elements and combining all the "data" you get from them and analyze them together, you should be able to form an even more accurate picture of how the weather will behave for sometimes up to 12 hours.

Will you be able to make an accurate 24-hour forecast? Probably not. Will you be able to make a 5-day forecast? Off-course not. (except if you have your own personal weather satellite orbiting the earth. Most home professional weather stations are not even able to forecast beyond 24 hours!)

But having the ability to judge how the weather conditions around you may change is a pretty handy skillset to have.   

Feel free to join my  Mailing List  to be informed whenever a new article is released, and share new developments and helpful hints & tips.

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

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What A Weather Station Measures – And The Instruments Used To Measure Weather

What Does A Weather Station Measure heading

Home (or personal) weather stations are gaining popularity in homes and businesses worldwide. Most of these instruments can measure a surprisingly wide range of weather variables. We take a closer look.

The following table list the primary atmospheric elements weather stations measure, as well as the instruments used to measure them:

Weather Variable

Instrument

1

Temperature

Thermometer

2

Humidity

Hygrometer

3

Rainfall

Rain Gauge

4

Wind Speed

Anemometer

5

Wind Direction

Weather Vane / Windsock

6

Air Pressure

Barometer

7

Light Intensity

Photometer

8

UV Index

Solar Radiometer

When you think about how the weather is measured, it is actually not just one, but a combination of measured variables. Combined, these variables form the atmospheric conditions we experience as a specific type of weather at any specific time.

The most common elements measured by a home weather station are temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, rainfall, and air pressure. 

(You will notice that, in the table above, Light Intensity and UV Index are also mentioned. Although more advanced weather stations are capable of measuring these parameters, they are not as critical to weather and forecasting as the other five variables.)

To better understand them, we will look at each of these different elements that make up the weather. Under each category, we also look at the different instruments used to measure it, as well as how it measures the specific aspect of weather.

1) Temperature

Temperature is measured by a thermometer. You get different types of thermometers, but to keep things simple, let's just focus on the two more familiar ones.

thermometer

The traditional thermometer consists of a tube filled with a liquid that expands or retracts in response to changes in temperature. One of the most well-known examples is the mercury-filled thermometer. As the temperature rises, the mercury expands and pushes higher up in the tube, giving you a measured reading. As the temperature drops, it contracts, and the level indicator in the tube drops accordingly.

The majority of modern thermometers, however, including the ones used in weather stations, use thermocouples. They measure temperature by the amount of electrical resistance that is flowing between two different metals. Let me explain...

Two different alloys are joined together. Each alloy's electrical resistance responds differently to any changes in temperature. An electrical current flowing through these two metals will be influenced directly by this difference in resistance created by these alloys. By measuring the changes in the current, an accurate reading of temperature can be obtained.

2) Humidity

Humidity is the amount of moisture present in the air and is measured by a hygrometer. A variety of different hygrometers exist, but again I will just focus on the two most important ones to stay on point.

The psychrometer is a well-known earlier example that uses two thermometers (one being covered with a wet cloth and the other to open air.)

The bulb of the thermometer covered with the cloth will give a lower reading due to the evaporation of the moisture on the cloth, which rate of evaporation, in turn, depends on the amount of moisture present in the air. The different readings between the two thermometers are then used to determine the relative humidity of the air.

hygrometer

Clearly this is not a very accurate way of measuring humidity, but luck,ily the invention of the electronic hygrometer made everything a lot easier and more accurate.

As with thermocouples (used for measuring temperature), the electrical resistance is again used to make an accurate reading, but in this case, humidity is the target.

A capacitive and resistance hygrometer operate slightly different but are both based on the same principle. Material able to absorb moisture is used to measure the amount of electricity flowing through it.

The more moisture a material contains, the better it is able to carry an electrical current. The amount of humidity in the air will determine how much moisture the material is able to absorb. As a result, the relative humidity can be determined by measuring the strength of the electrical current flowing through the material.

3) Rainfall

Rainfall is the amount of precipitation measured in a specific area over a certain period of time and measured by a rain gauge.

Professional weather stations use a cylindrical funnel with an aperture of 8 inches (203mm) which is placed about 12 inches (300mm) above ground level. It can normally hold up to 1 inch (25mm) of rainfall.

After a 24 period, the content is collected and poured into a calibrated glass for accurate measuring, while the empty cylindrical funnel is repositioned in place to record the next 24 hours of rainfall.

Tipping Bucket Rainfall Gauge

Naturally, not all rainfall gauges can be manned and emptied regularly, especially when it comes to personal weather stations and weather stations placed in remote areas. As a result, almost all modern homes and remote weather stations use Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges.

Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges have the advantage of recording rainfall automatically and never needs to be emptied. It consists of two buckets that are balanced on a fulcrum (and works in a see-saw action). 

A funnel collects the rainfall, which is collected in one bucket. Once the bucket reads a specific amount of rain, it tips and empties its contents into a runoff area. As it tips, it triggers a switch that sends a signal to the base station to record the reading. At the same time, the empty bucket on the opposite side lifts into position to record the same amount of rainfall before it also tips, the measurement is recorded, and the process is repeated.

4) Wind Speed

Wind speed is simply the rate at which air is moving at any specific location and is caused by a difference in air pressure, as air flows from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. The instrument used for measuring wind speed is called an anemometer.

3-cup anemometer

The most well-known and commonly used anemometer is the 3-cup anemometer (or 4-cup), where cylindrical cups are attached to horizontal arms that pivot around a center pole.

As the wind speed increases, the cups start rotating faster. By measuring the speed of this rotation, the wind speed can be calculated. The actual measuring can be done in more than one way, but are all based on the speed at which the cups are rotating. 

There are other ways of measuring wind speed, like using a hot-wire anemometer or tube anemometer, but are not important for normal everyday wind speed measurement.

5) Wind Direction

Wind direction obviously refers directly to the direction of air movement (wind). It may not be as obvious as you think, though. Wind direction refers to the direction the wind is coming from, and not the direction it is blowing in. (This means when the weather reports refer to a southerly wind, it means it is coming from a southern direction. Many people understand this the other way around.)

weather vane

Wind direction is measured predominantly by a windsock or wind vane. Windsocks are often seen at airports, but the weather vane is used on a regular basis in professional and personal weather stations.  

Most of you know what a weather vane looks like. Very often seen on top of tall buildings, it consists of a horizontal pole spinning freely around a central axis with an arrow (or similar pointing device) on the one side, and a big flat vertical surface on the opposite side that responds to any changes in wind direction.  

6) Air Pressure

Air Pressure (also called barometric or atmospheric pressure) is the number of molecules present in the air. To put it another way, the air around us has weight, which is determined by the number of molecules present in the air. 

Air pressure is closely related to gravity, which means that the air closer to the ground is exposed to stronger gravitational forces, making it much heavier while air higher up in the stratosphere are exposed to very little gravity and is much lighter as a result.

(This is the reason jet airliners fly at such high altitudes of around 30 000 feet. The low air density allows it to fly much faster and economical through the thinner air, keeping fuel usage much lower than it would have to fly at low altitudes and having to push through denser air. It keeps them out of more turbulent air closer to the earth's surface as well.)

The instrument used for measuring air pressure is called a barometer. There are basically two kinds of barometers. The Mercury and Aneroid barometers.

Mercury barometers date back centuries. It consists of a glass tube partially filled with mercury. It is placed upside down in a container (reservoir), also containing mercury. The container is exposed to the surrounding air. 

As air pressure increase (gets heavier), it pushes down on the mercury in the reservoir, forcing the mercury inside the glass tube to rise. This change in mercury levels is measured, and air pressure can be calculated as a result. Naturally, as air pressure drops, the opposite occurs.

As mercury is very poisonous and the setup requires a fairly controlled environment, this kind of barometer is not a very safe and practical solution.

barometer

Aneroid barometers solve all these problems and are used in almost all modern weather stations (and even in your smartphone!) It consists of a partially vacuumed sealed metal container. This is attached to a spring and levers, which is connected to a needle or electronic measuring device.

As the air pressure increases, it causes the container to contract, causing the attached spring/levers to expand or move, which is registered the measuring device and either displayed or transmitted to the base station. When the air pressure decreases, it causes the container to expand, causing the opposite reaction, which is also measured and recorded.

Conclusion

Now you have a clear understanding of what variables a weather station measures, as well as which instruments are used to measure them and how they are measured.

Also, take note that not all home/personal weather stations can measure all these variables. Normally they can contain any combination of measuring tools. (The more comprehensive weather stations come standard with all of these measuring capabilities though.)

Some personal weather stations even read more variables than the ones mentioned in this post, like solar radiation and soil moisture. These are advanced functions and not a necessity for the majority of your weather measuring requirements. 

Never miss out again when another interesting and helpful article is released and stay updated, while also receiving helpful tips & information by simply  following this link .

Until next time, keep your eye on the weather!

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