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What it is
Guide to personal weather stations including selection, sensor types, proper placement, data collection, online integration, and basic weather forecasting skills.
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SKILL.md
370 lines · 2,238 words
Gather requirements. Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.
Analyze the situation. Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to weather station.
Guide to personal weather stations including selection, sensor types, proper placement, data collection, online integration, and basic weather forecasting skills.
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What it teaches a bot, what it covers, and the whole file to read.
What it covers
When to Use
Process
Questions to Ask First
Station Selection Guide
Sensor Types and What They Measure
Proper Sensor Placement
Data Collection and Analysis
Online Integration
Basic Forecasting Skills
Storm Tracking
Seasonal Patterns to Track
Equipment Maintenance
Progression Path
Output Format
Example
Edge Cases
Develop the framework. Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.
Deliver actionable output. Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.
Address edge cases. Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.
Use this skill when:
User needs guidance on weather station
User asks about weather station best practices or techniques
User wants a structured approach to weather station
Do NOT use this skill when:
A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
The request is outside the scope of weather station
Before recommending a weather station setup:
What is your primary interest? (Casual monitoring, gardening, severe weather tracking, data analysis, aviation)
What is your budget? ($50-100 / $100-300 / $300-800 / $800+)
Where will you install it? (Rooftop, yard, balcony, farm)
Do you have WiFi access at the installation location?
Do you want to share data online (Weather Underground, CWOP)?
What is your technical comfort level? (Plug-and-play / Some setup / Advanced networking)
Are you in an area prone to severe weather?
How important is data accuracy vs convenience?
AcuRite 5-in-1 Weather Station
Temperature, humidity, wind speed/direction, rainfall
Wireless to indoor display
Basic functionality, good starting point
Limited online connectivity without additional hardware
Ambient Weather WS-2902
WiFi-connected, sends data to Weather Underground, Ambient Weather Network
Temperature, humidity, wind speed/direction, rainfall, UV, solar radiation
Best value weather station overall
Good app and web dashboard
Davis Vantage Vue
Industry standard for personal weather stations
Highly accurate sensors, rugged construction
Built for long-term outdoor exposure
Requires WeatherLink dongle for internet connectivity (additional $)
Ambient Weather WS-5000
Ultrasonic wind sensor (no moving parts, more durable)
WiFi built-in, excellent app
Additional sensor expansion capability
Haptic rain gauge
Davis Vantage Pro2
Research-grade accuracy
Modular sensor suite
Fan-aspirated radiation shield (most accurate temperature)
Standard for citizen science networks
Expandable with soil moisture, leaf wetness, UV sensors
Tempest WeatherFlow
All-in-one design, no moving parts
Lightning detection
Haptic rain sensor
Solar powered, no batteries
AI-enhanced forecasting
$330 for station, requires subscription for some features
| Feature | WS-2902 | Davis Vue | WS-5000 | Davis Pro2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$190 | ~$300 | ~$400 | ~$600+ |
| Accuracy | Good | Excellent | Very Good | Research-grade |
| WiFi | Built-in | Add-on | Built-in | Add-on |
| Durability | Good | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent |
| Expandable | Limited | Limited | Yes | Very |
| Wind sensor | Cups/vane | Cups/vane | Ultrasonic | Cups/vane |
Thermistor (most stations) - Resistance changes with temperature
Accuracy matters: +/- 1F is good, +/- 0.5F is excellent
Radiation shield is critical - direct sunlight creates false high readings
Fan-aspirated shields are most accurate (Davis Pro2 option)
Capacitive sensors - Most common, measure relative humidity (RH)
Accuracy: +/- 3-5% RH is typical
Dew point calculated from temperature and humidity
Dew point is often more useful than RH for comfort assessment
Cup anemometer - Traditional, mechanical, proven technology
Ultrasonic - No moving parts, measures wind speed and direction simultaneously
Hot wire - Laboratory grade, rarely in personal stations
Measure: Average speed, gust speed (peak in reporting period), direction
Mechanical vane or integrated ultrasonic sensor
Reports in degrees (0/360 = North, 90 = East, 180 = South, 270 = West)
Important for weather prediction and identifying approaching fronts
Tipping bucket - Most common, tips at measured increments (0.01" or 0.2mm)
Haptic/impact - No moving parts, measures raindrop impacts
Weighing - Most accurate, used in research stations
Annual calibration recommended for tipping buckets
Usually in the indoor console, not the outdoor unit
Measures in inHg (inches of mercury) or hPa/mb (hectopascals/millibars)
Must be calibrated to sea level pressure for meaningful comparison
Most important single measurement for short-term forecasting
UV index (0-11+) measures ultraviolet radiation intensity
Solar radiation (W/m2) measures total solar energy
Useful for gardening, solar panel assessment, health awareness
Height: 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8m) above ground (standard meteorological height is 5 feet)
Surface: Over grass or natural ground, NOT over concrete or asphalt
Shade: Radiation shield must prevent direct sunlight
Airflow: At least 10 feet from buildings, trees, or other heat sources
Avoid: South-facing walls, HVAC units, dryer vents, barbecue areas
Height: As high as practical - ideally 33 feet (10m) above ground
Clearance: At least 10 feet above roofline if roof-mounted
Distance: Away from buildings and trees (at least 4x the obstacle height)
Mounting: Secure pole mount rated for wind loads in your area
Compromise: Even imperfect placement gives useful relative data
Level: Must be perfectly level for accurate measurement
Height: 3-5 feet above ground (avoid splash from ground)
Clearance: Distance from obstacles at least 2x the obstacle height
Avoid: Under trees (drip), near buildings (wind eddies), sprinkler zones
Heating: Optional heating element prevents freezing (important in cold climates)
Temperature sensor in direct sun (reads 10-20F high on sunny days)
Anemometer below roofline (dramatically underestimates wind)
Rain gauge under eaves or near trees
All sensors mounted on same pole too close together
Installing over concrete or dark surfaces (heat island effect)
Temperature Trends
Daily high and low, when they occur
Diurnal range (difference between high and low)
Compare to official station (closest NWS/airport data)
Frost/freeze warnings based on your microclimate
Barometric Pressure Trends
Rising pressure: Improving weather, clearing skies
Falling pressure: Deteriorating weather, approaching storms
Rapid drop (0.06+ inHg/hour): Significant storm approaching
Steady pressure: Current conditions likely to continue
Note: Absolute value matters less than the trend
Wind Patterns
Prevailing wind direction for your location
Seasonal changes in wind patterns
Wind shifts indicating frontal passages
Correlation between wind direction and weather type
Rainfall Analysis
Monthly and annual totals
Rain rate (inches/hour) for intensity
Compare to historical averages for your area
Track drought conditions or excess rainfall
Most WiFi stations log to cloud services automatically
CSV export for spreadsheet analysis
Calculate: Monthly averages, records, degree days, growing degree days
Create charts to visualize trends over time
Create Weather Underground account
Register your station (get Station ID and API key)
Enter credentials in your station's settings
Your data appears on the WU map and personal weather station page
Compare with nearby stations for accuracy validation
Data feeds into NOAA/NWS forecasting models
Your data directly helps improve official weather forecasts
Registration through wxqa.com
Requires APRS-formatted data (most Davis and Ambient stations support this)
Ambient Weather Network - For Ambient Weather stations
WeatherCloud - International weather station network
PWSweather - Community weather data sharing
Weather Observations Website (WOW) - UK Met Office program
Home Assistant - Direct integration with most station types
IFTTT - Trigger actions based on weather thresholds
SmartThings - Automate based on temperature, rain, wind
Example automations: Close smart blinds when UV is high, alert when frost is likely, turn on dehumidifier when humidity exceeds threshold
The barometer is your most powerful forecasting tool:
Steady above 30.20 inHg: Fair weather likely
Falling from 30.00 to below 29.80: Storm approaching within 12-24 hours
Below 29.60 and still falling: Significant storm imminent
Rising after low: Storm passing, improvement coming
Cirrus (thin, wispy, high): Fair now, but weather may change in 24-48 hours
Cumulus (puffy, white): Fair weather (unless they grow tall)
Cumulonimbus (tall, anvil-shaped): Thunderstorms, severe weather
Stratus (flat, gray, low): Overcast, possible light rain/drizzle
Nimbostratus (thick, dark): Steady rain or snow
South/Southeast wind: Warm, moist air approaching
Northwest wind: Cold, dry air behind a cold front
East/Northeast wind: Often precedes storms (coastal areas especially)
Veering winds (shifting clockwise): Improving weather
Backing winds (shifting counterclockwise): Deteriorating weather
Check barometric pressure and its 3-hour and 12-hour trend
Note current wind direction and any shifts
Observe cloud types and movement direction
Check humidity and dew point trends
Compare with official NWS forecast for calibration
Over time, develop local knowledge of patterns specific to your area
Sign up for NWS alerts for your county
Watch for: Rapid pressure drops, sudden wind shifts, green-tinted sky, rotating clouds
Have a NOAA Weather Radio as backup to internet
Know the difference: Watch (conditions favorable) vs Warning (event occurring or imminent)
Count seconds between flash and thunder, divide by 5 = miles
30/30 rule: Go inside when count is under 30 seconds, stay inside 30 minutes after last thunder
Your station data can show the pressure drop and wind shift that precedes storms
Rapid temperature swings, severe weather season begins
Track last frost date for gardening
Monitor soil temperature if you have soil probe
Tornado season peak (varies by region)
Heat index calculations (temperature + humidity)
Afternoon thunderstorm patterns
UV index monitoring for health
Drought tracking via rainfall totals
First frost date monitoring
Cooling degree days calculation
Hurricane season awareness (June-November, peak August-October)
Fog formation conditions (dew point near temperature)
Wind chill monitoring
Snowfall measurement (manual, separate from rain gauge)
Freezing rain conditions (temperature near 32F with precipitation)
Heating degree days calculation
Check rain gauge for debris (leaves, insects, bird droppings)
Verify data against nearby NWS station for accuracy
Clean solar panel if station is solar-powered
Inspect all mounting hardware for corrosion or loosening
Check radiation shield vents for blockage
Verify battery levels in all sensors
Compare readings with a calibrated reference if available
Replace batteries in outdoor sensors (even if showing OK)
Clean and lubricate moving parts (cup anemometer bearings)
Calibrate rain gauge with measured water pour
Inspect cables and mounting pole for weather damage
Update firmware/software
Phase 1: Install basic station, learn to read conditions, compare with official data
Phase 2: Join Weather Underground, start data analysis, learn forecasting basics
Phase 3: Add supplementary sensors (soil moisture, lightning, additional temperature)
Phase 4: Contribute to CWOP, track seasonal patterns, refine local forecasting
Phase 5: Integrate with home automation, build custom dashboards (Grafana)
Phase 6: Mentor others, participate in CoCoRaHS or local NWS spotter training
Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.
[Weather Station deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timelineInput: "Help me with weather station for a mid-size project."
Output: A complete weather station framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.
Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
Conflicting requirements: Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
Scale mismatch: Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
Domain crossover: When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest
SKILL.md
370 lines · 2,238 words
The text of SKILL.md is shown as it downloads, under the Apache-2.0 license, by Ferrox Labs. The license is the one in the file's own frontmatter.
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