An atomic weather station does two jobs at once. It shows you what the weather is doing outside your window, and its clock sets itself from the U.S. atomic time signal, so you never have to touch it, not even when daylight saving time starts or ends. La Crosse Technology makes more of these than anyone, and the range can be confusing. This guide sorts the current models by what they do best, explains how they work, and covers the one thing that makes or breaks accuracy: where you put the outdoor sensor.
Quick picks
- Best all-around color station: C85845 Wireless Color Weather Station with Alerts. It shows indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, heat index, dew point and an animated forecast, and it lets you set alerts for extremes.
- Simple color forecast station: 308-1414 Color Forecast Station, in black or white, with animated forecast icons and temperature alerts.
- Best for watching barometric pressure: M73170, with a 36-hour pressure history graph. For a black-and-white display, see the 308-1417, which also comes in a backlit version.
- Best for checking several rooms: 308-1412-3TX, which comes with three wireless sensors for outside, the garage, a greenhouse or the basement.
- Best for homes prone to mold: 308-1414MB, which adds a mold-risk indicator to a color forecast station.
- Best for anglers: 308-1451 Fisherman Forecast Station, with a fisherman icon, barometric pressure, sunrise and sunset times, and moon phase.
- Best for wind: 327-1417 Wind Speed Weather Station, whose 3-in-1 outdoor sensor reads temperature, humidity and wind speed.
- Best to expand later: S73071, which accepts add-on wind, rain and extra temperature sensors (sold separately).
- Clock first, weather second: the 512-14937 wall clock with forecast and the extra-large 513-63867 put big, readable time front and center, with outdoor readings alongside.
How an atomic weather station works
Every station on this page combines three parts.
- A self-setting clock. The display listens for WWVB, the time signal that the National Institute of Standards and Technology broadcasts from near Fort Collins, Colorado. It usually syncs overnight, when reception is strongest, and adjusts for daylight saving time on its own.
- A wireless outdoor sensor. A small battery-powered transmitter sends outdoor temperature and humidity (and, on some models, wind speed) to the display. La Crosse rates most of these sensors for up to about 330 feet in open air; walls, metal siding and stucco shorten that.
- A barometric forecast. A pressure sensor inside the display tracks how air pressure is changing. Falling pressure usually means unsettled weather is on the way, and rising pressure points to clearing. The station turns that trend into forecast icons for roughly the next 12 hours. It needs time to learn your location: plan on one to four weeks, depending on the model, before trusting the icons.
A forecast built from one barometer is a local, short-range outlook, not a substitute for the National Weather Service. It is good at answering “is it about to turn?” and less good at timing exactly when rain starts.
What to compare
- Color or black-and-white display. Color screens are easier to read across a room, but they need to stay plugged in for full brightness. Black-and-white models such as the 308-1417, 308-1412-3TX and 308-1451 can run on batteries anywhere.
- Pressure history. If you like to see a front coming, look for a pressure graph: 24 hours on the 308-1425B, 36 hours on the M73170.
- Number and type of sensors. Most models include one temperature and humidity sensor. The 308-1412-3TX includes three, the 327-1417 adds wind speed, and the S73071 can grow with wind and rain sensors.
- Alerts and extras. Temperature and humidity alerts, heat index and dew point, mold risk, moon phase, and sunrise and sunset times are spread across different models. Pick the ones you will actually use.
Side-by-side comparison
| Model | Display | Pressure | Stand-out features |
|---|---|---|---|
| C85845 | Color | Forecast icons | Heat index, dew point, custom alerts, adjustable brightness |
| 308-1414 | Color | Forecast icons | Black or white frame, temperature alerts |
| 308-1414MB | Color | Forecast icons | Mold-risk indicator, alarm |
| S84107 | Color | Yes | Seasonal scenes, moon phase, HIGH/LOW records |
| S77925 | Color | Yes | Moon phase, weather alerts |
| 308-1425B | Color, vertical | 24-hour graph | Moon phase, tall format |
| M73170 | Color | 36-hour graph | MIN/MAX records with time stamps, alerts |
| S73071 | Color, backlit | History graph | Comfort meter, add-on wind and rain sensors |
| 308-1417 | Black-and-white (backlit option) | History graph | Tendency arrows, battery or AC versions |
| 308-1412-3TX | Black-and-white | — | Three remote sensors, write-on location labels |
| 308-1451 | Black-and-white | Yes | Fisherman icon, sunrise/sunset, dual alarms |
| 327-1417 | Color | Forecast icons | Wind speed up to 111.8 mph, alerts |
| 308-146 | Color | Forecast icons | USB port for charging a phone |
Where to put the outdoor sensor
Most “my weather station is wrong” complaints come down to sensor placement, not a faulty unit. A sensor in the sun can read 10 degrees or more too warm.
- Keep it in the shade all day. A north-facing wall, or the underside of an eave or deck rail, works well.
- Keep it dry and ventilated. The sensors are weather-resistant, not waterproof. Mount them vertically so moisture drains, and out of direct rain.
- Stay away from heat sources. Dryer vents, air-conditioner units, chimneys, grills, and sunny pavement or roofing all skew readings.
- Mind the height. Official weather instruments sit about 5 feet above grass. You don’t need to match that exactly, but avoid the ground, a hot roof, or right against a sunny wall.
- Check the signal before you mount it. Set the sensor where you plan to put it and watch for readings on the display first. Fewer walls between the sensor and the display means a stronger signal.
- Use lithium batteries in cold climates. Lithium AA cells keep working at much lower temperatures than alkaline ones.
Getting the atomic time to set
Put the display near a window, ideally on the side of the house facing Colorado, and away from TVs, computers and Wi-Fi routers. Insert the batteries or plug it in, choose your time zone, and give it a night; reception is strongest between midnight and sunrise. If the time is an hour off after a time change, see our guide to fixing an atomic clock after daylight saving time.
Frequently asked questions
Do these weather stations need Wi-Fi?
No. The models on this page use radio: the sensor talks directly to the display, and the clock picks up the WWVB time signal. There is no app or internet connection to set up.
How accurate is the forecast?
La Crosse says its barometric forecasts are about 70 to 75 percent accurate for the next 12 hours once the station has calibrated. Treat the icons as a local heads-up, and check an official forecast for anything important.
Why does the forecast say it needs weeks to calibrate?
The station has to learn the normal pressure range at your elevation before it can tell a meaningful drop from an ordinary day. Leave it in one place and let it run.
Can I add more sensors?
It depends on the model. The 308-1412-3TX comes with three sensors, and the S73071 accepts add-on wind, rain and temperature sensors. Check the manual for your station before buying extras, since sensors are model-specific.
Ready to choose? Browse every model in our atomic weather clocks collection, or start with our guide to choosing an atomic clock.
