If you’re operating one of the more than 250 thousand Ambient Weather stations in the world, the data you’re collecting could soon be incorporated into AccuWeather’s Weather Network and used to create that company’s comprehensive forecast models, the two brands announced at CES on Monday.
There are two parts to the deal: Ambient Weather stations will become the “official” source of “ground truth” data—i.e., information that is known to be true by way of direct observation—for AccuWeather. The data will also be incorporated into the forecasting tools AccuWeather provides its meteorologists.
This news story of part of TechHive’s comprehensive coverage of the best home weather stations.
In exchange, AccuWeather will promote Ambient Weather’s best-selling stations—the WS-2902 ($190 at Amazon), WS-2000 ($300 at Amazon), and WS-5000 ($450 at Amazon)—as its official weather stations. There’s also something in it for station owners—new ones, at least: Each of those models will come with a free 3-month trial of the Premium+ level of AccuWeather’s app, available for Android and iOS.
In the interest of privacy, it appears station owners will need to consent to providing their data; Ambient Weather won’t make station data public by default. If you want to keep your station’s data—and its location—private, you can. If you’ve share your station data publicly, on the other hand, it will also be shared with AccuWeather meteorologists.
This announcement follows the release late last year of Ambient Weather’s Weather Window, $200 picture-frame-like device that displays content from Ambient Weather Network stations. AccuWeather’s forecasts will be integrated into this device and the AWN dashboard, the company says. We’re expecting a review unit soon.
