Backyard Weather Instrument

You don't need weather instruments to tell you when it's snowing... all you need is a window. But to anticipate frosts and freezes, rain, snow, and other weather events at your place can save lives. The information will allow you to cover plants and otherwise protect tender plants and pets.

A weather station bundles several weather instruments into one electronic device. It will tell you even more. It will measure and report a variety of information, such as:.

• Outside temperature
• Daily high and low temperatures
• Barometric pressure
• Outside humidity
• Dew point
• Daily and yearly rainfall
• Wind speed and direction
• Wind chill
• Inside temperature and humidity

Weather watchers live all around the world, and South of Flagstaff folks are right in there with them, observing conditions with their own backyard devices. Conditions such as the summer storm gathering near Sedona, shown in the top photo.

Thank goodness we don't have hurricanes or tornadoes to contend with here.

Severe weather visits us each year in the form of winter snow storms, occasional spring flooding in runoff areas, and high spring winds. We appreciate the moisture, so we welcome the rain and snow.

Low moisture years seemed to come in bunches there for a while. Some call it climate change... I call it natural rhythm. Almost all of the earth's processes appear to follow natural rhythms... even the occasional ice age. Continental drift may be an exception. 

Ah, but I drift from my subject.

Rain and snow play a big part in reducing the forest fire danger and keeping the bark beetles in check. Since we live in the world's largest ponderosa pine forest, these are of significant concern.

Moisture in the ground and trees, humidity, and winds are critical elements in the summer fire danger level. And ironically, the very welcome monsoon rains are delivered by thunderstorms... accompanied by lightning.

Our pine forest has too many trees crowded together and too little moisture. These conditions cause stress on the trees in the form of low pitch production. Pitch is a tree's defense against bark beetles, according to the experts.

  South of Flagstaff is a large area. Conditions measured at the official National Weather Service site may be significantly different than conditions in your backyard. As shown in the photo below, things can really pile up on your back deck or picnic table.

The weather in your own backyard is interesting. It's just smart to know what's going on out there. 

A weather instrument or station suitable for observing at your place can easily be found on the internet.

Here are links to a couple of places to try, or maybe a seller will advertise on this page.

• The WeatherShack

• Birdwatchers Digest

And one final thought... 

A weather instrument or weather station could be the perfect gift for that person who "has everything they need."

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