Tempest Weather Station

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

Version lineage (2023–2026)

• Tempest (2020): the original all-in-one — ultrasonic wind, haptic rain, no moving parts, solar + battery, Wi-Fi hub.
• Tempest '26 (2026): the refreshed generation described in 2026 coverage — larger solar panels, replaceable battery, upgraded sensors/coating, redesigned hub. Exact model identifier UNVERIFIED.
• Generation note: much of the 2026 "Tempest '26" information rests on sponsored/manufacturer-aligned material — treat generational claims cautiously until confirmed against the official spec sheet.

Overview

The Tempest is the set-and-forget home/basecamp weather station: a single all-in-one sensor with no moving parts — ultrasonic wind measurement, haptic rain sensing — powered by solar with an onboard battery backup, feeding a Wi-Fi hub and a polished app with API access. The community consensus favors the easy setup, the app/API integration, and lightning detection. The repeated cautions: the haptic rain sensor can miss drizzle/snow or false-trigger from vibration, siting dominates wind accuracy, and there is no built-in display — the phone app is the interface.

Key Specs

• Model: Tempest Weather Station (2020 platform; '26 refresh described in 2026 coverage — identifier UNVERIFIED)
• Sensors: ultrasonic wind (no moving parts), haptic rain, temperature, humidity, pressure, UV, lightning detection
• Power: solar + onboard battery backup
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi hub; app + API
• Display: none built in — app is the interface
• Mounting: flat base + pole mount included
• Weight: UNVERIFIED as of 2026-09-20

Pricing

• Current price observed: $349 (official). Observation date: 2026-09-20.
• Whether the $349 figure covers the '26 refresh or the original platform is UNVERIFIED — confirm the generation at purchase.

In the Box

• Tempest sensor unit
• Wi-Fi hub
• Flat base
• Pole mount
• Documentation

Warranty

2-year warranty.

Support & Parts

WeatherFlow/Tempest support. '26 refresh reportedly adds a replaceable battery — original platform's battery is the long-term wear item.

Community Verdict

Loved for what it doesn't have: moving parts. Owners and reviewers praise the easy setup, the no-maintenance sensor, app/API integration, and lightning detection. The honest limitations, repeated across sources: haptic rain can miss drizzle and snow or false-trigger from vibration (a nearby road or a wobbly mount), wind readings live and die by siting, and there's no display — if you want a glanceable console, this isn't it. The '26 refresh claims (bigger solar, replaceable battery, better sensors) address the two biggest long-term complaints, but rest largely on sponsored material as of Sept 2026.

Images

• images/tempest-weather-station-1.jpg — primary lifestyle: sensor + hub + phone app, 32° (official Tempest store)
• images/tempest-weather-station-2.jpg — studio: sensor + mounting bracket
• images/tempest-weather-station-3.jpg — lifestyle: sensor on pole + phone app, 77° (official Tempest store)
• images/tempest-weather-station-4.jpg — studio: sensor + hub on wall mount (WeatherFlow shop)
• images/tempest-weather-station-5.jpg — lifestyle unboxing: sensor + hub + accessories
• images/tempest-weather-station-6.jpg — lifestyle: sensor on pole in garden

Full manifest: [internal image manifest — not shipped] §16. All six verified 2026-09-20 as WeatherFlow Tempest.

Research date: 2026-09-20. Specs via tempestwx.com and 2026 coverage. Community via review/forum consensus. Generation identifier and weight UNVERIFIED.

Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality (enrichment, Sept 2026)

• What survives: No moving parts means no anemometer bearings to seize — the core durability advantage over spinning-cup stations. The sealed sensor handles years outdoors.
• What wears/breaks: (1) Battery — the original platform's onboard battery is the long-term wear item; the '26 refresh reportedly makes it replaceable. (2) Haptic rain sensor — vibration false-triggers; mounting rigidity matters. (3) Solar soiling — dirty panels starve the battery; wipe them.
• Warranty-claim reality: 2-year warranty; WeatherFlow's support reputation is decent.

Version history — year by year (enrichment, Sept 2026)

• 2020: Tempest launches — the no-moving-parts all-in-one.
• 2023–2025: Standing model; app/API ecosystem matures.
• 2026: "Tempest '26" refresh described — larger solar, replaceable battery, upgraded sensors, redesigned hub (identifier and specs UNVERIFIED; largely sponsored sourcing).

Head-to-head vs closest rivals

• vs Ambient Weather WS-2902 (~$199.99 MSRP, sale ~$160): the WS-2902 has a proper console display and costs less; the Tempest has no moving parts, a better app/API, and lightning detection. Display people buy Ambient; app people buy Tempest.
• vs Kestrel 5500 ($379): different jobs — the Kestrel is a handheld you carry into the field; the Tempest is a fixed station that watches while you're away.
• Bottom line: the Tempest is the low-maintenance fixed station — but verify which generation you're buying before paying $349.

Care & maintenance

• Mounting: rigid mount, away from vibration sources — the haptic rain sensor punishes wobbly installs.
• Siting: wind accuracy is a siting problem, not a sensor problem — get it clear of obstructions.
• Solar: wipe the panels seasonally.

Buying traps

• Generation fog: confirm whether the $349 unit is the '26 refresh or original stock — the replaceable battery is the difference that matters.
• No display: there is no console — if you want glanceable data without a phone, look at the WS-2902 instead.
• Rain-sensor limits: haptic sensing misses drizzle/snow and false-triggers on vibration — know the technology's limits before trusting the rainfall numbers.

Community Verdict — added voices (Sept 2026 enrichment)

• Review consensus: easy setup, no moving parts, app/API integration, and lightning detection praised.
• Repeated cautions: haptic rain misses drizzle/snow, false-triggers from vibration; siting dominates wind accuracy; no built-in display.
• '26 refresh: larger solar panels, replaceable battery, upgraded sensors/coating, redesigned hub — per 2026 sponsored/manufacturer-aligned coverage; independent confirmation pending.

Key Specs gap-fill (enrichment — Sept 2026)

Weight: UNVERIFIED as of 2026-09-20. Model: Tempest Weather Station (2020 platform); a 2026 refresh is described in 2026 coverage but the refresh identifier is UNVERIFIED. Sensors: ultrasonic wind (no moving parts), haptic rain, temperature, humidity, pressure, UV, lightning detection. Power: solar + onboard battery backup. Connectivity: Wi-Fi hub; app + API. No built-in display — the app is the interface. Mounting: flat base + pole mount included.