Have you ever wanted to be able to predict the weather, plan a Sunday afternoon picnic, or a weekend at the shore, but didn't know how to get started in the fascinating hobby of weather, and become an Amateur Meteorologist.

You don't need to have an elaborate or expensive weather station to be able to predict with some accuracy what the future weather may be. In fact, some of the instruments can be made at home from material at hand and others may be purchased at a nominal cost.

Observing, recording and forecasting are the present, past and future tenses of meteorology. Observations should be taken at regular intervals and with accuracy. Records should be kept of past weather and are valuable tools in forecasting future weather. Forecasting offers a real challenge to the amateur meteorologist.

Mariners are more adept to forecasting weather changes from local observations than people in most other occupations. Pilots and farmers also acquire some skills in weather forecasting. It's not because the signs of changing weather are more pronounced over the ocean than over land.

The mariner for many years had no other source of information and out of necessity, learned to interpret the significance of weather changes. A heavy storm on land is not so often a matter of life or death as on the ocean. While most people recognize a few signs in the weather, they rarely follow them out to determine their reliability.

How many times have you said, " It looks like its going to rain today", If so, then you have practiced meteorology.

Many people are more than casual observers of the weather scene, and have set up their own weather station and have gained a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction from recording each day's weather and trying their hand at forecasting.

I've explained to you about weather observing and forecasting as a hobby. Next I'll explain what instruments are needed in setting up your amateur weather station.

Amateur Weather Station Continued. Part II

© 2001 Charles A. Giannetta

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