UK What an automatic weather station is
An automatic weather station (AWS) is a weather station that measures and reports conditions without staff on site. Its sensors take readings continuously, a data logger or embedded computer processes them, and a communications link sends the results to a central system at set intervals, often every minute or every few minutes.
Many stations sit on mountains, coasts or roadsides far from power and people, so reliability and low energy use matter as much as accuracy. National weather services run networks of them, and they are just as common at airports, on motorways, at wind and solar farms, on farms and on construction sites.
What an automatic weather station measures
The core measurements are set out in the World Meteorological Organization’s guide to instruments and methods of observation, WMO-No. 8, which also gives the standard mounting heights. A typical station measures:
| Measurement | Typical sensor | How it is usually mounted |
|---|---|---|
| Air temperature | Platinum resistance thermometer | In a ventilated radiation shield, around 1.25 to 2 m above ground |
| Relative humidity | Capacitive humidity sensor | In the same radiation shield |
| Wind speed and direction | Cup or ultrasonic anemometer and wind vane | On a mast, 10 m above ground for standard observations |
| Air pressure | Electronic barometer | Inside the logger enclosure, vented to outside air |
| Rainfall | Tipping bucket or weighing rain gauge | Level, on open ground away from obstructions |
| Solar radiation | Pyranometer | Level, with no shading |
Stations for specific jobs add more sensors: visibility and cloud base at airports, road surface temperature and state on motorways, soil moisture on farms, and snow depth in the mountains.
How the station works
A weather station is a small remote monitoring system, and our remote monitoring FAQ describes the general pattern. In an AWS, the parts are:
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Sensors. Connected over analogue inputs, pulse counters, SDI-12 or RS-485 serial links, often using Modbus.
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Data logger or computer. Samples each sensor, calculates averages, gusts and totals, checks the data and stores it locally.
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Communications. Cellular for most sites, licensed or unlicensed radio for networks, and satellite where there is no other coverage.
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Power. A solar panel, charge controller and battery sized to last through winter, or mains where it is available.
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Central system. Receives, quality-checks and stores the data, raises alerts and publishes it to forecasters and users.
Data logger or embedded computer
Traditional stations use a dedicated data logger: very low power, simple to program and designed for exactly this job. An embedded computer takes over when the station needs to do more on site, such as run a camera, process data from many sensors, host a local display or run analytics and alerts before sending anything.
A fanless, wide-temperature embedded PC can process readings locally, raise alerts on sudden changes and stay online for long periods without maintenance. Our industrial IoT gateways suit stations that mainly collect and forward sensor data, while our wide temperature computers suit larger stations with cameras or local processing.
What to look for in the station computer
Whether you choose a logger, gateway or embedded PC, check it against the conditions at the most exposed site in the network:
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Sensor connections. Serial, CAN and digital I/O for the instruments.
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Low power draw. To run from solar and batteries through winter.
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Wide temperature. Operation through freezing nights and hot cabinets.
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Remote management. System health monitoring, watchdogs and remote restart to avoid site visits.
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Local storage. Enough to buffer days of readings if the communications link drops, then send them when it returns.
Where automatic weather stations are used
The same basic design serves very different users, from national forecasters to a single farm or building site:
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National weather networks. Long-term climate records and the observations that feed forecasts.
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Airports. Automated observing systems report wind, visibility, cloud and pressure for pilots and air traffic control.
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Roads. Road weather stations warn of ice and fog and guide gritting and speed limits.
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Energy. Wind and solar farms measure wind and sunlight to forecast and verify output.
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Agriculture and construction. Frost, rainfall and wind data guide spraying, irrigation, crane operations and concrete pours.
Housing and siting a station
The electronics live in a sealed cabinet on the mast, exposed to sun, frost, wind and driven rain. Our outdoor enclosure design guide covers sealing, venting and sun loading. Good siting matters just as much: sensors need open ground, away from buildings, trees and heat sources, or the readings will not represent the area. Plan regular visits too: rain gauges and radiation sensors need cleaning, and most sensors need recalibration or swapping at intervals set by the manufacturer.
The outdoor PC weather station case study shows a mountain deployment.
Quick answers on automatic weather stations
Automatic weather stations: common questions
What is the difference between an automatic and an automated weather station?
None in practice. Both terms describe a station that measures and reports without staff. AWS is the usual abbreviation.
How often does an automatic weather station report?
Typically every 1 to 10 minutes. Sensors are sampled more often, and the logger sends averages, maximums and totals at the reporting interval.
How is an automatic weather station powered?
Usually by solar panel and battery. The system is sized so the battery covers several days of poor sun. Mains power is used where it is available.
How does an automatic weather station send data?
Over cellular, radio or satellite. Cellular suits most sites. Satellite covers remote mountains, seas and polar regions.
How high should a wind sensor be?
10 m above ground for standard observations. Lower masts are common for local monitoring, but the readings are then not directly comparable with standard stations.
We supply low-power embedded computers and gateways for weather and environmental stations, with the sensor interfaces, communications and operating system configured as standard. Tell us the sensors, power budget and location, and we will specify a system to match.