The BloomSky Next-Gen SKY2 and STORM: A Community-Based Smart Weather Camera Station

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I run a cattle ranch in West Texas; most of our community’s livelihood relies upon the weather, so when we ask each other “how much rain did you get?”, it’s not just idle chit-chat. Having an accurate way to measure what’s happening with the weather at all times is important, and that’s why I’m excited about the BloomSky weather station system.

In 2014, the first generation BloomSky: World’s First Smart Weather Camera was successfully funded on Kickstarter, and now the next-gen model is in the funding process.

BloomSky Storm

The next-gen SKY2 is a “5-in-1 weather camera station that accurately measures temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and precipitation.”

This next-gen model has been enhanced with Bluetooth BLE for easier setup, but it still has most of the “core competencies” of the original SKY1:

· Measures temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, UV exposure, and precipitation using reliable sensors.
· Captures pictures of the sky every 5 minutes, creating a time-lapse video at the end of the day
· Transmits data seamlessly through a Wi-Fi router and can control a variety of smart home hardware and applications.
· With an aerodynamic design, it adapts to the harshest weather conditions, including gusts, downpours, dust and UV radiation.
· Provides constant data collection with the solar panel option.

But the big news here is the addition of STORM, “a high-precision, 4-in-1 wireless weather device that measures rainfall, and wind speed, wind direction, and UV exposure. Its wireless radio frequency ensures consistent and reliable transmission with better range. The STORM was designed to work with either the SKY2 or SKY1 and is app-enabled (iOS or Android).”

bloomsky storm 2

Key features of the STORM include:
· Rain collector: Tipping cup accuracy of 0.2 mm per tip, no limit range.
· Anemometer: Measures wind speeds with an accuracy of 1 m/s or ±5%. Startup speed: 0.5 m/s.
· Wind direction: Measures wind direction in eight compass points.
· Bird spikes: To deter bird landing and nesting.
· Smart control ready: IFTTT, Nest, SmartThings, and more.
· Units of measure: U.S. standard
· Upright UV light sensor was moved from the SKY to the STORM for more accuracy.
· Solar Panel: Compact solar grid for continuous operation without recharge interruption.

Whether you want to keep tracks of rain (or a lack thereof), severe weather, high temperatures, or any other weather related situations, the BloomSky SKY2 & STORM combo looks very intriguing.

If you hurry, there are still some ‘special early bird’ kits available for $209, but once they are gone there will still be $229 ‘early bird’ sets. Check out the BloomSky SKY2 and STORM on Kickstarter.

I have a first gen BloomSky SKY1 model in hand now for a review, and I am looking forward to checking out the newer version once it’s available.

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She got her start in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie has written for or been profiled by nationally known sites and magazines, and she has served on multiple industry hardware and software award panels. She is best known for her device-agnostic approach, enjoyment of exploring tech, gadgets, and gear, and her deep-diving, jargon-free reviews.