For better humidity readings than the BME280, the Sensirion SHT31 is the hobbyist favourite (this 3-pack has about 4.7 stars from 36 ratings). Many builders use both: the SHT31 for temperature and humidity and the BME280 for pressure. The SHT31 has a built-in heater you can pulse briefly to drive off condensation after foggy nights, which keeps humidity readings from sticking near 100%. The 3-pack leaves spares for an indoor sensor and a greenhouse.

If you only need rainfall, or want a replacement, MISOL’s tipping-bucket gauge (about 4.4 stars from 119 ratings) closes a reed switch each time the bucket tips. Count tips with an interrupt and multiply by the per-tip volume from the documentation to get millimetres of rain. Because each tip is a single event, the ESP32 can even wake from deep sleep on a tip using an external wake-up source, then go back to sleep. Mount it level and clear of overhangs. 8 were in stock when we checked.

CALT’s industrial-style anemometer (about 4.1 stars from 15 ratings) is a step up in build quality from hobby kits. It runs from 5 V and outputs a 0–5 V analog voltage proportional to wind speed, so there’s no pulse counting. Because the ESP32’s ADC tops out around 3.3 V, scale the output with a voltage divider (for example 10 kΩ and 20 kΩ) before connecting it to an ADC1 pin, and calibrate against the datasheet’s voltage-to-speed curve. 9 were in stock when we checked.

The LTR390 is the modern choice for UV measurement now that older chips like the VEML6075 are discontinued. Waveshare’s module (about 5.0 stars from 13 ratings) measures UVA and ambient light over I2C, and the vendor’s examples convert the reading to a UV index, which is the number people actually want on a weather dashboard. Mount it facing straight up with a clear view of the sky, behind a UV-transparent window if you need weather protection.

A light sensor adds daylight, sunrise and cloud-cover information to your station and can drive automations such as closing blinds. The BH1750 (about 4.5 stars from 81 ratings) reports light directly in lux over I2C with no calibration needed. Direct sunlight can exceed its default range, so use its low-sensitivity mode or a diffuser outdoors. 13 were in stock when we checked.

The AS3935 listens for the radio signature of lightning strikes and estimates how far away the storm is, so your ESP32 can send an early warning before thunder is audible. SparkFun’s board is the best-documented version on Amazon, but we’re showing its honest 3.3-star rating (28 ratings): the AS3935 is very sensitive to electrical noise from motors, LED drivers, switching supplies and the ESP32’s own Wi-Fi, which causes false detections. Mount it away from noisy electronics, tune the noise floor and disturber settings in software, and treat it as a fun early-warning feature rather than a precise instrument. 14 were in stock when we checked.

A solar radiation shield is the single biggest accuracy upgrade for any outdoor temperature sensor. Its stacked, louvred plates block direct and reflected sunlight while letting air flow through, so the sensor measures the air, not the sun. Ambient Weather’s WH31-SRS (about 4.5 stars from 193 ratings) is sized for small sensor modules like the BME280 and SHT31 on a short cable, and includes a bracket for a pole or fence. Run only the sensor wires into the shield and keep the ESP32 in a separate box.

La Crosse’s sensor protection shield is by far the most reviewed option (about 4.6 stars from 3,753 ratings). It’s designed to shelter La Crosse’s own outdoor sensors from sun and rain, and makers commonly reuse it for small DIY sensor boards. It’s a simpler hood than a multi-plate louvred shield, so it offers less airflow, but it’s a big improvement over a bare sensor or one inside a sealed box. Check the interior size against your sensor board before buying. Only 4 were in stock when we checked.

Balcony climate station

ESP32 + BME280 in a radiation shield.

Full backyard station

Weather Meter Kit + BME280 + SHT31 + shield.

Sky and storm add-ons

LTR390 UV + BH1750 light + AS3935 lightning.

Garden rain logger

MISOL rain gauge + ESP32 in deep sleep, waking on each tip.

Why does my outdoor temperature read too high?

Almost always because of sunlight or self-heating. Put the sensor in a ventilated radiation shield, keep it away from walls and paving, and don’t mount it inside the same box as the ESP32, whose Wi-Fi radio warms everything around it.

How do I power an ESP32 weather station outdoors?

Wake the ESP32 from deep sleep every few minutes to read and publish, then sleep again. A small solar panel, a charge controller and an 18650 or LiPo battery can run it indefinitely. Our batteries and power guide covers the parts, and our deep sleep tutorial covers the code.

How do I measure wind speed accurately while in deep sleep?

Wind speed needs continuous counting, so either keep the ESP32 awake during a measurement window (for example 10 seconds every 5 minutes) or use the ULP coprocessor or PCNT peripheral to count pulses while the main cores sleep. Rain, by contrast, can wake the ESP32 on each bucket tip.

Where should I send the data?

Home Assistant via ESPHome or MQTT is the most popular choice, and InfluxDB with Grafana makes beautiful long-term charts. Many builders also upload to community weather networks. Start with our ESP32 MQTT tutorial.

Can I show the weather on a display indoors?

Yes. A second ESP32 with an e-paper or TFT screen can subscribe to your station’s MQTT data. See our displays for ESP32 guide for options.