🌡️ Temperature Measurements
Temperature (Ambient)
The actual air temperature measured by the weather station's outdoor sensor, typically housed in a radiation shield to prevent direct sunlight interference.
Wind Chill / Feels Like Temperature
The perceived decrease in air temperature felt by the body on exposed skin due to the flow of air. Wind increases heat loss from the body, making it feel colder than the actual temperature.
Dew Point
The temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor and condensation begins to form. When air reaches its dew point, relative humidity is 100%.
Indoor Temperature
Temperature measured by the base station's internal sensor, providing insight into your indoor climate conditions.
⏲️ Barometric Pressure
Barometric Pressure (Relative/Sea Level)
Atmospheric pressure adjusted to sea level equivalent, allowing for meaningful comparisons between different elevations. This is the pressure reported in weather forecasts.
Absolute Pressure
The actual atmospheric pressure at your station's elevation, without any altitude adjustment. This raw measurement decreases with elevation.
Pressure Trend
The rate and direction of pressure change over the past 3 hours. A key indicator for short-term weather forecasting.
💨 Wind Measurements
Wind Speed
The sustained average wind speed over a measurement period, typically 2-10 minutes. This represents the general wind flow rather than momentary variations.
Wind Gust
The maximum instantaneous wind speed recorded over a specific period, typically the highest 3-second average within the measurement interval.
Wind Direction
The compass direction from which the wind is blowing, measured in degrees (0-360°) where 0° is North, 90° is East, 180° is South, and 270° is West.
☀️ Solar & UV Radiation
Solar Radiation
The total amount of solar energy (sunlight) reaching the earth's surface, measured in watts per square meter (W/m²). Includes all wavelengths: visible light, infrared, and ultraviolet.
UV Index
A standardized international measurement of the strength of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun at a particular place and time. Higher values indicate greater risk of skin and eye damage.
🌧️ Precipitation
Rain Rate
The instantaneous intensity of rainfall, expressed as the depth of water that would accumulate in one hour if the current rate continued unchanged.
Daily Rainfall
Total precipitation accumulated since midnight (typically 00:00 local time). Resets each day to track daily totals.
Weekly/Monthly/Yearly Rainfall
Cumulative precipitation totals for the current week, month, or calendar year. These running totals help track longer-term precipitation patterns.
Total Rainfall
The cumulative rainfall measured since the weather station was installed or since the last manual reset. Represents the station's complete precipitation record.
📊 Weather Forecasting
Pressure Trend Analysis
The foundation of local weather forecasting. By monitoring the rate and direction of barometric pressure changes, your station can predict short-term weather developments.
Short-term Outlook
A forecast for the next 1-3 hours based on current conditions and recent trends. Uses rapid changes in temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind to predict immediate weather.
6-Hour & 12-Hour Forecasts
Medium-range predictions based on pressure trends, wind patterns, and atmospheric stability. Confidence decreases with time as uncertainty compounds.
Forecast Confidence
An assessment of how reliable the forecast is likely to be, based on stability of atmospheric patterns and quality of input data. Higher confidence means more consistent trends.
⚙️ System & Technical Terms
Station ID
A unique identifier for your weather station model. This helps identify the specific hardware and capabilities of your system.
Battery Status
Indicates the power level of the outdoor sensor unit's batteries. Most weather stations use 2-4 AA batteries that typically last 12-18 months.
Software Version
The firmware version running on your weather station's base unit. Updates may improve accuracy, add features, or fix bugs.
Update Frequency
How often the weather station transmits new readings from the outdoor sensors to the base station and database. Typical rates are 15-60 seconds.
Station Uptime
The total time since the weather station was first installed and began collecting data. Indicates the station's operational history and data archive depth.
Total Readings
The number of complete data records stored in the database since station installation. Each reading captures all sensor values at a specific timestamp.
🌍 General Weather Concepts
Weather vs Climate
Weather is the short-term state of the atmosphere (hours to days), while climate is the long-term average of weather patterns (decades to centuries).
Atmospheric Stability
The tendency of air to resist vertical motion. Stable air resists rising/sinking; unstable air encourages vertical movement and convection.
Diurnal Temperature Range
The difference between the daily maximum and minimum temperatures. Indicates atmospheric conditions and weather patterns.
⚠️ Weather Alerts
Weather Advisory
Issued when weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconvenience but do not meet warning criteria. Caution is advised but not emergency action.
Weather Warning
Issued when hazardous weather is occurring, imminent, or highly likely. Conditions pose a threat to life or property, requiring immediate action.
Alert Severity Levels
Classification system for weather alerts: Info (Informational), Advisory (Caution advised), Warning (Take action), Alert (Emergency action required).