UK Weather Blog

Fun And Practical Wind And Weather Gadgets

2010-06-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

As a society, we're consumed with the weather. Our personal, business, and economic well being can often depend upon wind and weather conditions. Travel, shopping, and social decisions are often dependent on the weather, and it's a well known fact that most conversations begin and end with comments about wind and weather.

What's even more interesting about weather and wind is not only their impact on our daily lives, but that forecasting weather and wind have become one of today's hottest hobbies, no pun intended! Wind and weather gadgets and related instruments are now a large part of attractive home decor. Items such as portable weather stations, wind gauges, specialty thermometers, and wind and weather home forecasters serve practical and decorative purposes for the well designed home.

Let's take a look at some of today's latest weather and wind gadgets, with a description of what they do. Each of these are applicable for home use and add a fun, practical element to your home decor.

Weather Stations: These desktop weather centers are designed for those who are most interested in optimal conditions in their living area or garden. Weather stations typically display temperature and humidity levels for multiple locations, and 12-24 hour advanced forecasts. Usually, a desktop weather station shows forecasts, at a glance, for rainy, sunny, snowy, cloudy, and partly cloudy.

Wireless Rain Gauges: Designed for the gardener or hobbyist, wireless rain gauges normally have a 100' tracking range and display rainfall history tracking data. Most wireless rain gauges also track current temperature and temperature trends at a glance. In most cases, these handy units can be placed on a desktop or wall mounted.

Wind Resistant and Lighted Umbrellas: Even umbrellas have gone high tech. If you've ever had your umbrella turned inside out due to high winds, you should know that wind resistant umbrellas are designed to avoid that unpleasant problem. Further, lighted umbrellas are a unique rain protection device where the shaft is made of clear acrylic which lights up in dark conditions and doesn't require bulb replacement.

Hygrometers: Hygrometers are designed to measure and display every environmental factor imaginable. Recently, hygrometers have trended toward hand held models, designed for outdoors enthusiasts. These units display current conditions in digital format, and trends both past and upcoming.

"Family Friendly" Weather Forecasters: The latest fun weather gadgets are designed for youngsters. Animated weather forecasters show all the relevant wind and weather factors, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, and upcoming trends. The unique and fun aspect of an animated weather forecaster is a built in "weather boy" who wears an outfit appropriate for the day's weather. Geared toward children, animated weather forecasters help guide children to dress appropriately for upcoming weather.

Learning and understanding weather is no longer the cut and dried forecast in the local paper or the news channel. These fun and practical weather gadgets are part of a growing hobby appropriate for all ages.

Jim Hofman

24th April 2006 - A foggy start, then gradually turning brighter

2006-04-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

A foggy start here in Bucks then gradually turning brighter.
Max temperature of 13C-14C from a low of 7C.

Misty and grey this morning - 7.45AM

A damp, grey day here in Bucks.

2006-04-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

A damp, grey day here in Bucks.
Rain in the morning.
Max temperature of 13C from a low of 8C.

Grey scenes in the early afternoon

22nd April 2006 - A very pleasant. mostly sunny day

2006-04-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

I spent the afternoon in London today.
Feeling very pleasant in warm sunshine.
Max temperature of 18C from a low of 5C.

Blossom in Chelsea this afternoon

21st April 2006 - Bright spells

2006-04-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

A day of bright spells here in Bucks. Feeling pleasant.
Max temperature of 16C from a low of 9C.

New leaves on the trees

20th April 2006 - A mainly cloudy day with some showers

2006-04-20T23:01:00.000-07:00

A mainly cloudy day here in Bucks with a few showers.
Maximum temperatures of 12C - 13C from a low of 9C.

Cloudy Scenes at 5.30PM

19th April 2006 - A mostly cloudy day with the odd shower

2006-04-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

A mostly cloudy day here in Bucks (a few bright spells). The odd light shower.
High of 13C-14C from a low of 6C.

This time of year again when the leaves start to come out :-D

18th April 2006 - Long sunny spells, just the odd shower in the early evening

2006-04-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

A day of long sunny spells here in Bucks with the odd shower in the early evening.
Max temps of 13C-14C from a low of 6C.

South Bucks during a long sunny spell

17th April 2006 - Sunny spells

2006-04-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

A day of sunny spells here in Bucks. Feeling very pleasant.
High of 13C-14C from a low of 6C.

A daisy in the sunshine

1.37PM - Scattered clouds

16th April 2006 - A bright start, then mostly cloudy with the odd shower

2006-04-16T05:04:00.000-07:00

A bright start here in Bucks. Turning increasingly cloudy though with the odd shower in the afternoon.
High of 14C-15C from a low of 8C.

Sign of Spring - A ladybird

Moody looking sky - 1.23PM

Nice colours at sunset - 7.41PM

15th April 2006 - A few bright spells, feeling pleasant

2006-04-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

A few bright spells in the afternoon after a day of overcast skies. Feeling pleasant. Slight mist also.
Max temperatures of 13C-14C from a low of 8C.
Lots of buds on the trees appearing now.

Buds appearing on the bushes

A dandelion

The sky shortly after sunset at 8.10PM

14th April 2006 - Rain and cloud in the morning, sunnier in the afternoon

2006-04-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

Rain and cloud in the morning, sunshine in the afternoon. Feeling pleasant with a high of 14C-15C from a low of 6C.

Lovely sunset - 7.44PM

13th April 2006 - A breezy day with a few bright spells

2006-04-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

A mostly grey day here in Bucks with a just a few bright spells.
Rather windy.
Max temperatures of 13C-14C from a low of 8C.

A Camellia

12th April 2006 - Sunshine to start, more cloud later

2006-04-12T22:06:00.000-07:00

A sunny start here in Bucks with temperatures around 4C.
More cloud later with max temperatures of 13C. Staying dry.

Lots of sunshine at 7.45AM

11th April 2006 - Dry in the morning, rain all afternoon and evening

2006-04-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

An overcast, dry morning here in Bucks but it began raining in the early afternoon and continued until late evening, the rain was heavy at times.
Max temperatures of 8C-9C from a low of 2C.

Wet scenes at 2.40PM

10th April 2006 - Sunny spells with a frosty start (snow nearby on the higher hills)

2006-04-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

A day of sunny spells here in Bucks with a frosty start. There was snow in the higher parts of the Chilterns and you could see this on the cars that drove through my town in the morning from that area. None where I live though that settled.
Maximum temperatures of 8C-9C from a low of 0C.

South Bucks - 8.30AM

The sun setting and the moon around 7.20PM

9th April 2006 - Frosty and bright to start. Clouding over later with showers

2006-04-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

Frosty and bright to start here in Bucks with temperatures around freezing.
Soon clouding over though with showers at times.
Max temperatures of 8C-9C

Frost approx 6.30AM

8th April 2006 PM - Before a heavy shower hit!

2006-04-08T22:42:00.000-07:00

This was the view near to my home just before a heavy shower hit at 8.10PM.

8th April 2006 PM - Before a heavy shower hit!

2006-04-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

This was the view near to my home just before a heavy shower hit at 8.10PM.

8th April 2006 - Sunny spells, feeling nippy in the wind.

2006-04-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

I visited Coombe Hill today which is the highest point of the Chiltern Hills. It stands at 260M (853ft).
Sunshine at times but feeling nippy in the gusty wind.
Maximum temperature of 10C from a low of 3C.

Photos taken between 2.18PM - 2.23PM

7th April 2006 PM - Beautiful Sunset

2006-04-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

There was a beautiful sunset here in Bucks. Lovely orange shades.

7.37PM - South Bucks

7th April 2006 - A mixed bag!

2006-04-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

A mixed bag here today weatherwise. Brighter skies to start then overcast with the odd shower and then sunny spells.
Maximum temperatures of 11C from a low 4C.

12.10PM - cloudy skies

5.26PM - sunny spells

6th April 2006 - Lots of sunshine with a chilly start

2006-04-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

Lots of sunshine here in Bucks with a chilly start (temps just above freezing).
Maximum temperatures of 10C-11C but feeling colder in the breeze.

6.50AM

A close up of a bumble bee basking in the pleasant sunshine

A cloud showing iridescent coloration at 5.23PM (close up too)

Lovely cloud formations at 5.26PM (note: you can just see the moon)

5th April 2006 - Decent sunny spells with a frosty start

2006-04-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Lots of sunshine here in Bucks today with max temperatures of 10C-11C.
Frosty to begin with, temperatures of -2C at dawn.

Frosty scene - approx 7.30AM

Colours around Sunset in Richmond upon Thames
Top photo - approx 7.18PM
Bottom photo approx 7.37PM

4th April 2006 - Some sunny spells with a frost to start

2006-04-04T20:42:00.000-07:00

Some sunny spells here in Bucks today with a frost to start (around 0C at dawn).
Cooler than of late, max temperatures of 6C to 7C.

The sky at 6.37AM

(That tree again :D) - I can't remember there ever being so much blossom on it.

The sky at 7.30PM

3rd April 2006 - Sunny spells

2006-04-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Sunny spells here in Bucks today.
Temperatures reaching 10C-11C from a low of 5C.
Feeling rather chilly this evening.

Clouds around 9.30AM

The moon and sunset - approx 7.20PM

2nd April 2006 - Sunshine and heavy showers

2006-04-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

Sunshine and heavy showers here in Bucks today.
Typical April weather :-D
Max temperatures of 12C from a low of 5C
There were some very large clouds around and the wind was gusty at times.

South Bucks in the early afternoon - not long after a heavy shower

1st April 2006 - Sunshine and showers

2006-04-01T17:45:00.000-08:00

Happy New Month :-D

A day of sunshine and showers here in Richmond upon Thames and London. One shower in the late afternoon was of the hail variety. I spotted a faint rainbow too.
Feeling very pleasant in the sun when the breeze was not too strong. Max temperatures of 15C from a low of 9C.
Lots of blossom about this time of the year.

2.50PM - Blossom in Chelsea

4.55PM - Richmond upon Thames after a heavy hail shower (note the faint rainbow)

31st March 2006 - A few sunny spells with the odd shower

2006-03-31T18:43:00.000-08:00

A few sunny spells here in Bucks today with the odd shower in the afternoon.
Mild too, max temperatures of 13C-14C from a low of 9C

South Bucks - 7.57AM

Blossom in South Bucks - 2.30PM