| Cloud patterns and wind velocity. When you saw | | | | the instruments in your yard, put in some |
| those words, you knew immediately that they | | | | batteries and install the software on your |
| dealt with the weather, right? Did you form some | | | | computer or place the enclosed digital read-out |
| sort of image in your mind and did the words | | | | screen on a cabinet or desk somewhere in your |
| bring just a touch of interest or excitement? If | | | | house. Every minute of the day, you will receive |
| your answer was "yes," you may have what it | | | | readings from each of the instruments and you'll |
| takes to become an amateur meteorologist. | | | | never have to go outside unless you just want to. |
| Have you always had an interest in the weather? | | | | You'll learn what each of these instruments does |
| Would you like to learn how to forecast the | | | | and how you can use them to forecast the |
| weather and use both simple and sophisticated | | | | weather in your online weather lessons. |
| instruments to do it? No problem. Just follow along | | | | Then the fun begins! You will find yourself almost |
| here and we'll have you predicting local storms in | | | | obsessed with the weather for a while. You'll be |
| no time at all. | | | | challenging yourself to beat the TV weather |
| By being an amateur, you are just that. Not a | | | | personalities at their own game. You'll take great |
| professional meteorologist with the kind of training | | | | pride in predicting storms before they're |
| that allows you to work for the National Weather | | | | announced. All this will be a blast. It's hard to |
| Service (NWS) or the National Oceanographic and | | | | explain the exhilaration that you'll feel being the |
| Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) but someone | | | | neighborhood weather expert. Your neighbors will |
| who knows the terminology and the tools needed | | | | come to you with weather questions and ask for |
| to determine weather pattern movement and | | | | local forecasts. You'll get the attention once they |
| characteristics. You will become part of a network | | | | know your a weather nut. Not quite rock star |
| of people all over the world who match and | | | | status but you'll get plenty of attention. |
| report on weather conditions in their communities | | | | You should look at some of the following wireless |
| in order to make sure that the rest of the world | | | | weather stations if you're going to get into this. |
| knows what the global weather is doing at any | | | | They areexcellent, advanced tech products and |
| location and at any particular time. | | | | the cost is very reasonable. |
| In order to get started with your new hobby, | | | | The La Crosse WA-1340 Weather Direct |
| you'll need both some knowledge and some tools. | | | | TALKING Wireless Weather Station for about |
| The knowledge will come from the Internet and | | | | $90. This unit gives you easy access to the same |
| the tools will be simple weather instruments that | | | | quality weather as meteorologists 24 hours-a-day |
| you can buy reasonably inexpensively and install | | | | without turning on a TV or a computer! It works |
| yourself in your own back yard. | | | | without Wi-Fi, there is NO software to install, and |
| So that you can learn about weather and all of its | | | | the forecasts are totally FREE. NO subscription |
| terminology and nomenclature, you should run a | | | | required. |
| search for the following terms, "weather" or | | | | Another great LaCrosse product is the La Crosse |
| "weather forecasting." If you print off all the | | | | Technology WS-8035U-IT-SAL Wireless Weather |
| relevant information that you find for those | | | | Station with Remote Temperature and Humidity |
| terms, you will have more information than most | | | | Gauge. The weather station's main console |
| books will provide. Read the information and learn | | | | displays a wide range of information in an |
| everything you can about weather, weather tools | | | | easy-to-read format on a large LCD. The unit |
| and instruments, weather forecasting and | | | | monitors indoor/outdoor temperature and |
| weather symbols. Learn how to read a weather | | | | humidity, as well as barometric pressure, and |
| map. It's not that difficult. If there is a NWS | | | | features a pressure history chart to give you |
| bureau nearby, you should call them and ask for a | | | | some idea of where the weather is heading. |
| tour. Look at all the complicated and sophisticated | | | | Oregon Scientific also makes some high tech |
| equipment they use to provide the daily weather | | | | instruments that you should consider, such as the |
| information. | | | | Oregon Scientific WMR968 Cable Free Complete |
| Inside of a month of two, you should have a | | | | Weather Station. This baby goes for around $205. |
| good weather education. Now, it's time to put that | | | | Completely wireless and simple to install, this |
| information and knowledge to practice. It's time | | | | home weather station tracks and stores data |
| for you to buy some weather instruments and | | | | about more than 20 weather conditions and |
| gadgets. What you'll need are the simplest forms | | | | displays them on a touch-screen LCD monitor |
| of weather instruments and you can buy them | | | | that measures only 8 inches wide by 5-1/2 inches |
| either one at a time or in a neat little package | | | | high. There are three outdoor sensors, each |
| called a home weather station. | | | | powered by a solar cell: an anemometer that |
| The instruments that you'll need are a weather | | | | attaches to a building, fence, or roof to measure |
| thermometer, a barometer, a hygrometer, a wind | | | | wind speed and direction; a thermo-hygrometer |
| vane, an anemometer, a good compass (usually | | | | to measure temperature and humidity; and a |
| comes with the anemometer), an atomic clock | | | | self-emptying rain gauge. |
| and a rain gauge. That's it! Those simple | | | | Whichever choice you make is a good one. Like all |
| instruments and Weather maps are important to | | | | other enthusiasts, you'll probably find yourself |
| track your findings and compare to the weather | | | | trading up for tools and equipment until you have |
| in regions close to you. | | | | exactly what you want. Let's just hope that you |
| It may take a while for you to buy each of these | | | | don't trade up to a Doppler radar. I'm not sure |
| instrument components but you can get them all | | | | your neighbors would appreciate that. |
| in the home weather station package. It is a | | | | Now go out and get started. Learn your basics |
| wireless multi-component package with all of | | | | and begin a fun and enjoyable hobby that will give |
| these instruments in it. You simply have to install | | | | you lots of enjoyment and recognition. |