Build Your Own Backyard Weather Station 🌦️
Inspired by the setup at Marita Payne Park
Ever wonder how scientists track the weather? With tools like the humble weather station—and guess what? You can build one too!
At Marita Payne Park, we’ve installed a simple, community-friendly weather station to help residents learn more about climate, data collection, and the natural world around us. Let’s break it down.
Wind Vane & Anemometer
These red spinning cups and arrow at the top tell us two things:
Wind Speed: The spinning cups are part of an anemometer, which spins faster the windier it is.
Wind Direction: The arrow points where the wind is coming from, helping us see patterns in local breezes.
DIY Tip:
You can 3D print your own like we did (printed at Bathurst Clark Library’s 3D Lab) or build one using cups, straws, and a pencil.
👉 Guide: DIY wind vane and anemometer guide.
Rain Gauge
Mounted lower on the pole is a rain gauge—just a clear container with measurements marked. It catches rain so we can see how much has fallen.
DIY Tip:
Cut the top off a plastic water bottle, mark measurements on the side, and place it in a flat, open area.
👉 Guide: DIY rain gauge tutorial.
A recycled plastic bottle can easily be turned into a functioning rain gauge. We cut the top off, inverted it into the base to act as a funnel, and added measurement lines along the side using a ruler and permanent marker. This allows us to track how much rain our area receives each week.
Thermometer
For temperature readings, we attached a digital thermometer to our weather station setup. Simple, affordable digital sensors (like those from Arduino or similar kits) make it easy to record temperature data throughout the day.
Attached to the post is a simple temperature strip, which shows the outdoor temperature.
DIY Tip:
These are inexpensive and can be bought online or at pet/aquarium stores. They stick to any surface and change color based on the heat.
Or you can make your own
👉 Example: link to a basic outdoor thermometer.
Come See It at the Marita Payne Food Forest!
Everyone is welcome to visit the weather station in person at the Marita Payne Park Food Forest in Vaughan. It’s a great chance to see the setup, learn how it works, and get inspired to build your own! Whether you’re passing by or joining one of our community events, stop in and check out how local climate data is being tracked right in your neighborhood.
Why Build a Weather Station?
Educational: Learn how weather works in real time.
Sustainable: Use low-cost, recycled, and community resources.
Empowering: Monitor your local microclimate and get inspired to take climate action.
Whether you’re a student, hobbyist, or eco-enthusiast, making your own weather station is a rewarding project that blends creativity, science, and community engagement. Thanks to resources like Vaughan Public Libraries, this kind of hands-on learning is more accessible than ever.
Want to build your own or bring this to a local classroom or community garden? Reach out—we’d love to collaborate!
