Do you know what a rain gauge is?
Let’s see this list of questions about weather below to understand better!
“What is the temperature outside?
What is the current humidity level?
What is the speed of the wind?
How much rain did you get last night”
All of these are likely questions we’ve asked at some point,
…and we can get broad answers simply by opening our favourite weather apps.
However, such applications may not give reliable weather information for your particular area.
You’ll need your own weather station for that level of information.
If it seems too difficult to set up and utilize, I can show you a weather system…
….that is the polar opposite of difficult.
It’s the WeatherFlow Tempest home weather system, and it’s very cool.
Let’s have a look.
Rain Gauge Definition
A rain gauge is a meteorological device that measures the quantity of rain falling per unit area..
…in a certain period of time. A collecting container is put in an open location as part of the device.
Maybe you have found some mediocre rain gauge.
But this one is an all in one device that is strong and versatile.
Here’s our favourite rain gauge..
Editors’ Pick Rain Gauge: The Tempest Rain Gauge
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The Tempest is a wireless, maintenance-free, solar-powered home weather system…
…with no moving parts that offers temperature, humidity, wind speed, rainfall,
…UV index, pressure, and a lightning sensor.
What’s in the package, exactly?
- Tempest weather sensor by WeatherFlow
- WiFi hotspot
- Mounting bracket for pole
- The WiFi hub’s USB power cord
- Adapter for AC power
Features and Design
The home weather system is made up of two sections.
The Tempest weather sensor, which is a funnel-shaped white plastic module…
…with a number of built-in sensors, including solar power and no moving components,
…is the first portion that goes outdoors.
A detachable post mount with a keyhole slot for a screw (not provided)
…and a threaded socket for tripod type installation is located on the bottom.
The WiFi hub is similarly composed of white plastic and is used inside.
A micro USB connection for the power cable is located on the hub’s rear side,
…and a status LED is located above the power port.
Installation
The weather sensor may be mounted outside in two ways.
Using the keyhole slot on the bottom of the weather sensor,
…you may attach it to the top of a flat surface like a fence post or deck railing.
Surprisingly, a screw isn’t supplied with the system,
…so you’ll have to buy one if you want to attach it this way.
When I was planning the installation for this review,
I decided to mount it on top of a 10-foot post across the street from my home to get it off the ground
…and out of the way of the trees. Unfortunately,
I was unable to locate a suitable screw. Fortunately, I was able to utilize the other mounting technique…
There are no screws required for the pole mounting bracket,
…but it does need a 1-inch pole, which is not provided.
The weather sensor is attached to the pole mount bracket…
…by removing the keyhole slot mounting plate on the bottom.
I was fortunate in that I was able to locate an old pole that had previously…
…used as a bird feeder, which I secured with wire ties to a metal fence post..
…across the street from my home. The Tempest weather sensor…
…is seen on the post in the photograph above.
The sensor has an arrow on it that must point north in order for the wind direction data to be correct,
…but it’s otherwise quite simple to install.
And here is where I’ve placed the WiFi hub, which is next to my WiFi router,
…which is mounted on top of the grandfather clock.
Do you see the Synology router’s antennas?
How far may the hub be separated from the sensor?
They can sustain an uninterrupted connection for up to 300 meters (1000 feet)
…with a clear line of sight.
App and online version of The Tempest
With current weather information and a 10-day prediction,
…the Tempest app’s layout seems similar to other weather applications,
…but it really provides a lot more data than other apps.
To begin, you may turn to the sensor’s live display,
…which automatically changes to provide real wind speeds,
…temperature, lightning strikes, and more.
You may click on a day on the 10-day forecast page..
…to view additional information about that day,
…including an hourly forecast with the anticipated temperature…
… percent likelihood of rain, and the speed of the wind.
Amazing, right?
By clicking each item on the sensor page, you may get much more information.
You may, for example, look at historical rainfall data, wind speed data, l
…ightning strikes, and other information.
By signing into your account using the Tempest web app on your desktop computer,
…you may also access the data.
You may be wondering how the Tempest can gather rain data
…without an actual rain gauge on the sensor. Actually, it detects rainfall via haptics.
The haptic sensor can detect rain accumulation..
….extremely precisely (90-100 percent accuracy in Tempest and 80-100 percent accuracy in SKY)
…when correctly sited and calibrated, compared to accumulation…
…recorded by a traditional rain gauge, which should be carefully sited and co-located as well.
A traditional rain gauge may be quite accurate,
…but a haptic sensor can offer 1-minute resolution information on rain start time, event length, relative
…severity, and rain rate! Furthermore,
…the user is not required to manually gather data after each rain occurrence.
Isn’t it amazing? I think it’s fantastic!
The Benefit of Having Tempest Rain Gauge
- There are no moving components.
- There is no need for upkeep.
- There are no batteries to charge or solar panels to install.
- Easy to set up and use
- There are no subscriptions available.
Sum Up
The WeatherFlow Tempest smart home weather system is a weather enthusiast’s dream come true,
…from the simplicity of installation and use of the app to all of the data gathered
…and accessible in real-time. I’ve had a lot of fun with my no-fuss weather station
…and plan to keep using it for a long time.
Conclusion
What do you think about the Tempest Rain Gauge,
Are they worth it to have?
What are other garden gadgets you want us to talk about?
Let us know what you think by dropping comments below!
