![]() ![]() The Tempest sensor suite isn’t much larger than your hand. More often than not, however, it was quick to detect precipitation. The sensor did have detection issues in situations where there was very light drizzle or very light rain. The haptic rain sensor works and it works well. I’m happy to report that my worry was unfounded. The haptic rain sensor was my biggest concern prior to testing, because the technology behind haptic rain detection is brand new and vexed WeatherFlow engineers early on. The Tempest sensors appear to be of high quality. Super-sensitive, accurate instrumentation I walked away impressed with the quality of data it put out, and how well each of its sensors performed. Even the wind data, which is typically inaccurate due to siting issues with home weather stations, was within acceptable limits and closer to actual wind speeds than other stations, even with a sub-optimal installation location. I couldn’t spot any inconsistencies in the data from the control data I used, which is a nearby National Weather Service observing station. We’ll update this review when final specs are released. ![]() WeatherFlow didn’t have any specifics available as they still were writing the specifications and user manuals at the time of our test. WeatherFlow tells me that the Tempest calibrates itself, and you shouldn’t need to mess with any sensor settings.įrom watching the data roll in, it appears that observations are taken every 2 to 30 seconds, depending on the sensor. Data were available in the app and through the web-based portal almost immediately, with no calibration. ![]() The app is simple and easy to use, and everything works. But poor user experience can ruin everything, and over the years, I’ve run into my share of quirks and frustrations with various weather stations. The quick installation of the Tempest starts everything off on the right foot. WeatherFlow’s app is laid out in such a way that it can display all of your Tempest’s data on the first screen. Once your station is up and reporting, your data is incorporated into WeatherFlow’s network to produce better forecasts. The entire setup process is within the app, and I had the station up and reporting data in just five minutes.īut its best feature is not necessarily visible to you, at least not initially. The package also includes a Wi-Fi base station, which the Tempest uses to connect to your home network. For installation, you can attach it to the top of a mast (the method I used) or screw it onto the top of just about anything using its standard tripod mount. The entire sensor suite comes preassembled, and at 7.25 inches in diameter, 12 inches in length, and weighing just 3.5 pounds, it’s surprisingly small and light. There isn’t much to do when it comes to setup. This weather station is a game-changer, and at $329, while not the cheapest, the Tempest is the best station I’ve tested. WeatherFlow has a patent on this technology.įrom what I can gather, that new technology was much of the holdup: It takes time to get things right. Instead of using a tipping-bucket mechanism, a standard method for home weather stations for more than two decades, the Tempest measures rainfall by sensing raindrops striking the Tempest’s top. ![]()
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