Natural disasters can be devastating, claiming lives and destroying homes.  Sometimes, bad weather is predictable, and you can secure your family and home before it approaches.  Other times, bad weather comes out of nowhere and leaves you very little time to get everyone to safety. 

The weather doesn’t need to be severe to be a bother.  Even a simple rainstorm can ruin plans for family fun or make your drive to work more dangerous.  You can better prepare yourself for severe weather by installing your own weather sensors.  With this advanced technology you can monitor:

• Barometric pressure
• Solar radiation
• Wind speed
• Wind direction
• Humidity
• Temperature
• UV Rays

Different Kinds of Weather Sensors

1. Barometers – use water, air, or mercury to measure atmospheric pressure.  Barometers should be kept inside a building where the temperature is relatively constant.  A drop in barometric pressure is indicative of a storm.

2. Pyranometers
   – measure solar radiation and require direct sunlight.  They should be positioned out in the open where the sun will beat down on them regularly.

3. Anemometers – measure wind speed and need to be placed where the wind is unobstructed by other objects.  Typically, anemometers are mounted a little more than thirty feet off the ground, such as on a roof, and face north.

4. Hygrometers – determine the humidity in the air and are used in conjunction with thermometers.  Hygrometers should be arranged near thermometers.

5. Thermometers – measure air temperature and should be positioned four to six feet above ground in a shaded area but away from trees.  If you opt to place your thermometer on a building, you should pick a place on a north-facing wall below the eaves to protect it from sun and rain.

6. UV Ray Sensors – monitor the harmful ultra-violet rays projected by the sun.  Over exposure to such rays can lead to serious health problems like skin cancer and cataracts.  UV ray sensors can be mounted on a wall or inserted into the ground.

Your Personal Meteorologist

Instead of purchasing several different weather sensors and using them separately, you can buy a single device called a personal weather station. Personal weather stations combine all the weather sensors listed above into one multi-featured, accurate environmental monitoring system.  Whether installed on your rooftop or ground mounted, personal weather stations provide you with the information necessary to make quick decisions about the safety of loved ones.

Unlike meteorologists or weathermen, weather sensors provide vital and reliable information specific to the weather in your backyard.  With weather sensors, you can predict and determine approaching weather to better protect your home and family.