# SKY didn't record strong winds **URL:** \ **Category:** Tempest Owners\ **Tags:** sky, wind\ **Created:** [July 5, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846 "2019-07-05T12:06:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pagerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@pagerman](https://community.tempest.earth/u/pagerman)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/1 "2019-07-05T12:06:04Z")
On 7/2/19 we were in the middle of a massive microburst. My SKY didn’t record the peak wind gust. We did lose power, but the hub is on a battery backup. As you can see it stayed online for 10 mins after the event. Is this because of the reporting interval I have it set at? Station 2277. See the video here and look at 5:01:08PM [https://www.facebook.com/robert.vallone/videos/10219453066900244/](https://www.facebook.com/robert.vallone/videos/10219453066900244/) ---
**Author:** ![vinceskahan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/vinceskahan/32/2785_2.png) [@vinceskahan](https://community.tempest.earth/u/vinceskahan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/2 "2019-07-05T16:04:31Z")
That’s a good one…how much rain+wind do you think you got ? ---
**Author:** ![pswired](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@pswired](https://community.tempest.earth/u/pswired)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/3 "2019-07-05T16:45:05Z")
I also personally watched the wind nearly blow down some trees in my back yard during a storm last week, but the AIR reported only a 20 MPH gust. My visual estimate was 40+. I have power saving mode turned off. ---
**Author:** ![pagerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@pagerman](https://community.tempest.earth/u/pagerman)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/4 "2019-07-06T14:11:45Z")
My estimate was at least 50mph. Anyone from Weatherflow care to respond? ---
**Author:** ![gizmoev](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/gizmoev/32/941_2.png) [@gizmoev](https://community.tempest.earth/u/gizmoev)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/5 "2019-07-06T14:28:44Z")
Maybe @dsj can have a look at your station’s data. ---
**Author:** ![dsfg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/dsfg/32/9736_2.png) [@dsfg](https://community.tempest.earth/u/dsfg)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 9:43am UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/6 "2019-07-07T09:43:30Z")
Can you provide a photo of you installation environment ? Stay patient, it’s weekend. A WF team member will have a look on Monday, I’m shure. Did you read the topics on water drops on the sensors here ? ---
**Author:** ![vreihen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/vreihen/32/13217_2.png) [@vreihen](https://community.tempest.earth/u/vreihen)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/7 "2019-07-07T12:21:39Z")
For those not in the USA, it is a 4-day holiday weekend here for most businesses. For those inside the USA, there is a rather loud NASCAR race (and pre-race practices) talking place all weekend essentially outside the WF main office’s windows… ---
**Author:** ![dsj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/dsj/32/3_2.png) [@dsj](https://community.tempest.earth/u/dsj)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/8 "2019-07-09T22:08:17Z")
Wow, nice little storm! Sorry for the late response, @pagerman. I actually saw your post on Friday (not all of us took a four-day weekend, @vreihen !) and hoped to have a look at your data the same day but haven’t had a chance yet. We’ll do that shortly and let you know what the data says. ---
**Author:** ![dsj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/dsj/32/3_2.png) [@dsj](https://community.tempest.earth/u/dsj)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/9 "2019-07-09T22:15:07Z")
Can you provide a little info on where your SKY is mounted? Do you have any photos? ---
**Author:** ![pagerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@pagerman](https://community.tempest.earth/u/pagerman)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 11:36am UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/10 "2019-07-24T11:36:01Z")
Here is the current mount. Sorry for the delay, I’m in the process of moving. ![WF](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/2X/2/2385436e07e1ec15c1b4dfeae90b616b2c8bd002.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![pcapaccio](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/pcapaccio/32/5388_2.png) [@pcapaccio](https://community.tempest.earth/u/pcapaccio)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/11 "2019-07-24T14:19:36Z")
Looks like your sky mount is still partially blocked by your roof. Even the smallest amount of blocking can decrease your wind fetch. ---
**Author:** ![dsj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/dsj/32/3_2.png) [@dsj](https://community.tempest.earth/u/dsj)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/12 "2019-07-24T17:42:01Z")
Thanks for the photo! We’ve taken a look at your debug data for the high wind event and nothing in the data itself looks out of the ordinary - no flags or oddities in there. That is, it appears the SKY was accurately recording the winds it experienced. As for why it didn’t record those high gusts, our best guess is that your SKY was in the “lee” of your house. It looks like your photo is facing East (garage facing West) which means your SKY is mounted on the south side of your house. Assuming that’s correct, and given that the strong winds were northerly, your SKY was **downwind** of your house during those strong gusts. And since your SKY is well below the peak of your roof, the winds experienced at that point were likely not representative of the winds over open space (above your trees, for example). Furthermore, the winds seen in your video may have actually been **greater** than what they were in open space. They were likely accelerated by the funneling effect, created by the trees and houses, as it moved down your street. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/2X/8/854188134fe793cb0a04782e0a0b3de6d9f8007c.png) Note, this is a VERY common issue for all home weather stations. It’s difficult to find a mounting point where you have clean wind fetch in all directions. That’s okay though! ---
**Author:** ![pagerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@pagerman](https://community.tempest.earth/u/pagerman)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/13 "2019-07-31T20:08:13Z")
Thanks! Makes complete sense now. I’m moving, and I’ll be able to get it to the peak of the new roof! ---
**Author:** ![TheChad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/thechad/32/2332_2.png) [@TheChad](https://community.tempest.earth/u/TheChad)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/14 "2019-08-01T23:32:36Z")
Hey all looking for some insight. I have my sky about 30 feet in the air …in today’s storm I would think that winds were 20 to 30 maybe even 35 mph. Attached is a video and pic… ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/2X/9/9666f296e2826de0af4b65aeeb17a78fa95fa4a4.jpeg) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/2X/9/9666f296e2826de0af4b65aeeb17a78fa95fa4a4.jpeg) but it doesn’t seem like my sky picks up high gusts or even the wind average…seems low … ---
**Author:** ![dsj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/dsj/32/3_2.png) [@dsj](https://community.tempest.earth/u/dsj)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/15 "2019-08-02T15:48:56Z")
Thanks for the report, Chad. Please check the above discussion - siting of an anemometer for measuring “open air” wind speeds (the winds outside any obstructions) can be tricky in residential locations. Is it possible your SKY was downwind of your roof during that storm? ---
**Author:** ![TheChad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/thechad/32/2332_2.png) [@TheChad](https://community.tempest.earth/u/TheChad)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/16 "2019-08-02T16:23:51Z")
No…interference. It was NW wind, but outside of that…zero structure interference. The view you are looking at is north and northwest. ![IMG_2580](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/2X/e/ece2c93e66287c64a7e70ffcdbe7222d6e26319e.jpeg) ![IMG_2581](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/2X/f/fb1573b95cc13bec461bfe6e8f0c9faf5e966854.jpeg) The tree is about 50 feet away… ---
**Author:** ![btst.online](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/btst.online/32/16538_2.png) [@btst.online](https://community.tempest.earth/u/btst.online)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/17 "2019-08-02T16:49:14Z")
Think of the wind over the land like water down a rocky stream… there will be eddies and slow currents, faster areas, even areas where the wind will go in the opposite direction. 50’ from that tree is not a clear fetch. Having it 4’ above the wall is not good either… the wind will “run up” the wall and cause strange readings… My 2 cents. –Sam ---
**Author:** ![btst.online](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/btst.online/32/16538_2.png) [@btst.online](https://community.tempest.earth/u/btst.online)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/18 "2019-08-02T16:57:31Z")
And further more… Where you have your SKY, when the wind comes from the West, it is going to ‘fall’ off that tree toward the ground… where it will ‘meet’ the wind coming around the sides of the tree. That will cause turbulence and slow the windstream down. Then, it makes it’s way (erratically) to the wall and gets pushed up the wall by the wind coming in behind it… and then… meeting the upper level winds (which are disturbed by the lower level winds ‘falling’ away)… and the two then have to ‘remerge’ back to a single stream… which is slow and confused… It’s not always feasible to do so, but if you could raise your SKY up 20’ or so you’d see better readings. –Sam ---
**Author:** ![TheChad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/thechad/32/2332_2.png) [@TheChad](https://community.tempest.earth/u/TheChad)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/19 "2019-08-02T19:00:22Z")
Ok…so for all of us in this particular situation, it’s not the “height” of the sky, it’s the height away from “objects”. Essentially we can install the sky anywhere as long as we have “clear air”. Raising it 20’ is doable but can mountain Regarding the need to mount your SKY way up on the roof… actually, it is **not imperative** that users mount their SKY up in some scary or HOA non-compliant location. Sure, if you can access a location free of physical obstructions that impact the wind fetch you will get cleaner wind readings. And yes, there are meteorological standards for professional installation sites for government networks. But, let’s be real here, this is your home, your data, your choice to mount your SKY wherever you feel comfortable. > [@Photos of Sky and Installation](https://community.tempest.earth/t/photos-of-sky-and-installation/132/305): > > At WeatherFlow we’ve been measuring wind for over 20 years. (We got so good at it that folks like the US Navy, Dept of Homeland Security, and the America’s Cup hire us as special wind consultants.) To do it correctly is a highly involved process that combines excellent siting (that can take months of scouting locations) in addition to quality equipment. You’ve got the quality equipment, but your siting is limited to your house and yard. Most likely, even if you mounted your SKY exactly 10 meters off the ground (WMO standard for surface winds), your wind speed measurements would still suffer due to your surroundings. > > So, our advice is: don’t worry about it too much. Wind is the one parameter that is extremely difficult to normalize from a home installation. You should optimize the siting of your SKY for personal utility rather than to meet difficult government standards. ---
**Author:** ![tony.mcgee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tony.mcgee](https://community.tempest.earth/u/tony.mcgee)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846/20 "2019-08-02T19:31:20Z")
Hi @TheChad, we took a look at your data just to make sure there were no indications of any hardware issue, and there do not appear to be. I did just want to confirm a few items: 1. is this for station 4817 (Southend)? 2. is this for the storm between ~6 to 7 pm EDT August 1? 3. If the above 2 are correct, then the SKY did record gusts to 23 mph in that period (see image below)…are those the values that seem too low? Thanks! -Tony WeatherFlow Staff ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/2X/2/23d756191623d3b9a44f6cb041ad41edd975b36c.png) [Next page](https://community.tempest.earth/t/sky-didnt-record-strong-winds/3846.md?page=2)