The WeatherFlow Tempest Weather Station is an app-connected home weather system designed to measure conditions directly from your property rather than relying only on a regional forecast.
Its biggest difference from a traditional home weather station is the sensor design. Tempest measures wind and rainfall without the conventional spinning cups, wind vane or tipping rain bucket found on many competing stations. It combines those sensors with temperature, humidity, pressure, solar and lightning measurements in one outdoor unit.
For smart-home users, the more interesting part is what happens after the weather is measured. Tempest data can feed forecasts, alerts and compatible home-automation systems, including Home Assistant.
Check the current WeatherFlow Tempest Weather Station price on Amazon.
WeatherFlow Tempest at a glance
| Feature | WeatherFlow Tempest |
|---|---|
| Weather measurements | Temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, rain, UV, solar radiation and lightning |
| Wind sensing | Ultrasonic |
| Rain sensing | Haptic rain sensor |
| Wind speed range | 0.5–125 mph |
| Temperature measurement range | -40°F to 255°F |
| Temperature accuracy | ±0.7°F / ±0.4°C |
| Humidity range | 0–95% |
| Humidity accuracy | ±3% up to 85% RH |
| Power | Solar powered with internal rechargeable battery |
| Moving weather-sensor parts | None |
| Main interface | Tempest app and web interface |
| Home Assistant | Supported through WeatherFlow integrations |
What makes the Tempest weather station different?
Most traditional personal weather stations use mechanical parts to measure wind and rainfall. You may see spinning anemometer cups for wind speed, a vane for direction and a tipping bucket for rainfall.
Tempest takes a different approach. Its ultrasonic wind sensor measures wind without rotating cups, while rainfall is detected without a mechanical tipping bucket.
That means fewer exposed moving components that can collect debris, wear out or require mechanical adjustment.
It also gives Tempest its distinctive compact design: instead of several separate instruments mounted around a pole, most of the outdoor sensing hardware is contained in a single unit.
What does WeatherFlow Tempest measure?
Tempest covers considerably more than outdoor temperature.
The system measures or derives weather information including:
- air temperature;
- relative humidity;
- barometric pressure;
- wind speed and direction;
- wind gusts;
- rainfall;
- UV index;
- solar radiation;
- dew point; and
- lightning activity.
The value of having those measurements at home is locality. A forecast generated for an airport or regional weather site cannot know exactly what is happening in your yard at this moment.
Tempest combines measurements from your station with WeatherFlow’s forecasting system to create a more localized weather picture.
How accurate is the WeatherFlow Tempest?
WeatherFlow publishes detailed measurement ranges and accuracy specifications rather than simply describing Tempest as accurate.
For example, the current technical specification lists wind speed from 0.5 to 125 mph with ±0.5 mph accuracy. Temperature accuracy is listed at ±0.7°F (±0.4°C), while relative humidity accuracy is ±3% up to 85% RH.
Those specifications are useful, but installation still matters. Even an accurate sensor can produce poor real-world readings when it is mounted beside a building, under a roof edge, behind trees or in another location that blocks wind or alters temperature.
Placement matters more than many buyers expect
The best Tempest location depends partly on which measurements matter most to you.
Wind measurements benefit from open exposure. Temperature measurements benefit from avoiding artificial heat sources. Rain measurement needs an unobstructed view of precipitation.
That creates the normal weather-station compromise: a location that is ideal for wind may not be the easiest location for maintenance or wireless communication.
Before buying, think about where the station can realistically be mounted rather than simply whether there is space somewhere outside.
The Tempest app
The Tempest system is heavily app-based. Current conditions, historical information, alerts and forecast data are available through the Tempest software rather than through a conventional indoor console supplied with the station.
That approach has advantages if you already use your phone for connected-home monitoring. Weather data can be accessed without walking to a dedicated display, and the system can make historical information much easier to explore.
The tradeoff is equally important: buyers who specifically want a permanent color weather display on a desk or wall may prefer a weather station that includes one.
WeatherFlow Tempest and Home Assistant
This is one of Tempest’s strongest features for a smart-home household.
Home Assistant currently supports WeatherFlow through both local and cloud approaches.
The local WeatherFlow integration reads data directly from the device over UDP when Home Assistant and the WeatherFlow hardware are on the same subnet. A separate WeatherFlow Cloud integration can provide sensor and forecast data through WeatherFlow’s cloud service.
That gives advanced users several potential automation paths.
For example, local weather information could be used as one input for automations involving:
- irrigation;
- awnings or outdoor shades;
- windows and ventilation;
- storm alerts;
- lighting decisions based on ambient conditions; or
- weather dashboards.
The exact automation should always include sensible safeguards. A home weather sensor should not be treated as the sole safety control for equipment where failure could cause injury or property damage.
Alexa, Rachio and other smart-home uses
Tempest is designed to function as more than an isolated weather monitor. WeatherFlow promotes integrations with smart-home and irrigation systems, and the product can expose weather information to compatible third-party services.
Rachio integration is particularly logical because a local rain event or forecast can influence irrigation decisions.
For most buyers, however, the integration itself is less important than whether you have a genuine automation use for the data. Buying Tempest solely because it connects to many services is unlikely to justify its cost.
Solar power and maintenance
The outdoor Tempest unit is solar powered and contains an internal rechargeable battery.
Its lack of conventional moving wind and rain components can reduce mechanical maintenance compared with stations built around anemometer cups and tipping buckets.
That does not mean zero maintenance. Outdoor sensors still need sensible placement and occasional inspection for dirt, bird activity, leaves or other environmental interference.
Lightning detection
Tempest includes lightning detection as part of its environmental monitoring.
This can be useful for awareness of approaching storm activity and for weather enthusiasts who want more local storm data.
It should not replace official severe-weather alerts or emergency guidance. Treat a home weather station as an additional source of local information rather than a substitute for official warnings.
Does Tempest need a subscription?
WeatherFlow currently sells Tempest as a home weather system without requiring a basic subscription simply to use the station and its normal weather-data functions.
That is an important distinction when comparing connected weather products because ongoing service costs can materially change the long-term price.
What Tempest does particularly well
- Broad sensor coverage: one outdoor system measures most of the weather variables home users are likely to want.
- No conventional moving weather parts: the ultrasonic wind and haptic rain design simplifies the outdoor hardware.
- Strong app experience: useful if you prefer phone and web access to a dedicated indoor console.
- Smart-home potential: especially compelling for Home Assistant and automation users.
- Local forecasting: your own station contributes information from your actual property.
- Solar outdoor unit: avoids routine battery replacement as the primary power method.
What to consider before buying
- No traditional indoor display: this is primarily an app/web weather system.
- Placement is critical: poor mounting can compromise otherwise capable sensors.
- Higher purchase price: Tempest costs considerably more than basic temperature-and-humidity stations.
- Rain measurement is unconventional: buyers specifically wanting a physical tipping-bucket gauge may prefer another design.
- Smart features only matter if you use them: Home Assistant, Rachio and other integrations add value mainly to connected-home users.
Who should buy the WeatherFlow Tempest?
Tempest makes the most sense for someone who wants more than a basic indoor/outdoor thermometer.
It is particularly well suited to:
- weather enthusiasts who want detailed local data;
- gardeners monitoring conditions around their property;
- smart-home users who want weather data available to automations;
- Home Assistant users building dashboards or weather-aware routines; and
- buyers who prefer an app-based system with minimal mechanical outdoor hardware.
Who should skip it?
Skip Tempest if you only need temperature and humidity. A much cheaper sensor can handle that job.
It is also less attractive if your main requirement is a large dedicated indoor weather display. Tempest is centered on its app and connected data rather than a traditional desktop console.
Finally, reconsider the purchase if you do not have a suitable outdoor mounting location. Sensor placement can have more influence on your experience than many specification differences between competing stations.
If your priority is indoor CO2 and ventilation rather than outdoor weather, see our Aranet4 Home Review. Aranet4 focuses on indoor CO2, temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure, while Tempest is built around hyperlocal outdoor weather monitoring.
Final verdict
The WeatherFlow Tempest Weather Station is most compelling when treated as both a personal weather station and a smart-home data source.
The ultrasonic wind sensor, non-mechanical rain measurement, solar power and broad environmental sensing make the hardware unusual. The app, forecasting system and Home Assistant compatibility make the collected weather data much more useful than a simple outdoor display reading.
Its main drawbacks are price, dependence on app/web viewing for the best experience, and the importance of correct mounting.
For a smart-home user who genuinely wants hyperlocal weather data, Tempest is one of the more interesting weather-station systems to consider.
Check WeatherFlow Tempest availability and current pricing on Amazon.
Frequently asked questions
Does WeatherFlow Tempest work with Home Assistant?
Yes. Home Assistant currently provides both a local WeatherFlow integration and a WeatherFlow Cloud integration for compatible WeatherFlow devices and Tempest data.
Does Tempest have a physical rain gauge?
It measures rainfall without a conventional tipping-bucket rain gauge. Tempest uses a haptic rain sensor.
Does Tempest have moving wind cups?
No. Wind speed and direction are measured using ultrasonic sensing rather than conventional spinning anemometer cups and a wind vane.
Is the WeatherFlow Tempest solar powered?
Yes. The outdoor unit uses solar power together with an internal rechargeable battery.
Does Tempest include an indoor display?
The system is primarily designed around the Tempest app and web experience rather than a traditional dedicated indoor weather console.
What does Tempest measure?
Its measurements and derived weather data include temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, rainfall, UV, solar radiation, dew point and lightning activity.
Is Tempest only useful for weather enthusiasts?
No. It can also be useful for gardening and smart-home automation, particularly when local weather information is connected to systems such as Home Assistant or irrigation controls.