REVIEW: Tempest Weather System, The best on the market

Tempest weather station mounted on my roof.

I recently got the Tempest weather system bundled with my new Rachio 3 controller (read my review here), and it's been fantastic. The Tempest weather station provides precise local weather data, including temperature, wind speed, rainfall, humidity, and UV index, all in real-time.

Installation was very easy—I mounted the Tempest station to a pole on my roof to ensure accurate wind readings. One important detail during installation is to ensure the arrow on the unit points north. I used the compass app on my phone to get as close as possible.

The weather station includes a base unit that stays plugged in indoors. During setup, I initially missed a step, so I had a bit of trouble connecting it to my WiFi. However, once I figured that out, everything worked smoothly.

I also integrated it with Siri Shortcuts, allowing me to use the weather data in my Apple HomeKit setup. The Tempest app itself is excellent—clean design, easy navigation, and very informative.

• What Tempest measures

  • Outdoor air temperature and relative humidity, dew point, and “feels like” temperatures (heat index and wind chill)

  • Station pressure and barometric (sea-level) pressure

  • Wind speed, wind direction, 1-minute average, and gusts

  • Lightning activity, including strikes and distance up to 25 miles

  • Rain onset, intensity, duration, and accumulation

  • DeltaT, wet bulb temperature, air density

  • UV index, brightness, and solar radiation

• Other features

  • Tempest Home app available for both iOS and Android

  • Personal weather webpage that you can share

  • Tempest Nearcast™ technology for hyper-local forecasting

  • Auto-calibration through a Continuous Learning system for increased accuracy over time

  • Compatibility with smart home devices, including Alexa and IFTTT

I zipped around the internet and found that customers generally appreciate the Tempest weather station, noting its easy installation, especially on gutter mounts, and the comprehensive and accurate local weather data it provides.

I will note, it is on the spendy side. Reviewers say it is well-made with no moving parts that could fail, making it a reliable and affordable option for home weather monitoring. Some users have experienced mixed results regarding wireless connectivity and battery life—while some report excellent performance, others face connectivity issues and solar cell battery degradation over time. Similarly, the accuracy, particularly of the rain gauge, and value for money receive varied reviews, with some customers extremely satisfied and others expressing concerns about the price and precision.

Why Have a Weather Station at Home?

Most general weather forecasts you see on apps or television rely on data collected from distant weather stations, typically at airports. By having a Tempest weather station installed at your own home, you benefit from highly accurate, real-time conditions exactly where you live—not miles away. The hyper-local forecasts provided by Tempest can also integrate with your smart home technology, helping you save money by automating heating and air conditioning decisions based on actual weather data.

What Makes Tempest's Forecasts Better?

Tempest forecasts continuously improve as its machine learning (AI) system analyzes data from your station along with other local observations. Within about 60 days of installation, you'll notice significantly better forecast accuracy, with ongoing enhancements as the system gathers more data specific to your location.

Accessing Your Tempest Data

Once set up, your data and forecasts are easily accessible through the Tempest Weather App or any web browser by visiting tempestwx.com. You can log in with your account credentials or view as a guest. Although Tempest doesn't include a dedicated physical display, there are multiple ways to visualize and access your data digitally.

I’m excited about the upcoming integration with TRMNL, a digital e-ink display that will show weather information right outside of the app. I'm currently on the waiting list for the TRMNL display and plan to review it once I have it installed.

Feel free to ask me any questions!