Best way to calibrate my barometers?

[ggsteve]

I have four aneroid barometers that I have calibrated to the cheap Sharp electronic weather station I got for Christmas. I'm assuming this isn't super accurate way to set them.

I found the website localconditions.com and used my zipcode to get a pressure, which is currently reading 0.51 inches of Mercury higher than all of my barometers, but I don't know a) how often it updates or b) is the pressure where ever their barometer is likely to be the same as the pressure at my house? Is anyone familiar with the accuracy of this website?

Any other suggestions as to how I can get the best local reading to calibrate against? Thanks!

[APinNY]

Steve, I believe the static barometer reading is not as critical in forecasting as the barometric trend. Having said that, do you have a neighbor with an accurate weather station that you could comare with?

[Mark / Ohio]

I originally set mine per the airport about 6 mile away. I actually can pick up their automated weather channel on my police scanner. You could also go to WeatherUnderground.com and look at any other personal stations in your area. They also show time of last update there. Be careful though using personal weather stations instead of the airports. They are only as accurate as the time spent by the owner keeping track of them. A few of them are pretty bad so compare the closet reading to you with that of others in the area to see if it looks reasonable.


Best time to adjust it is during a long steady spell. With a mechanical barometer a steady 30.00" weather spell is ideal.

[JimD]

You could also try this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK5uF0soE5g

[ggsteve]

Thanks guys! I watched the video, then I checked the conditions at our closest air port, then compared that with information from Weather Underground (they were the same). So I calibrated to those figures. Pressure is dropping here. Possible rain tomorrow.

Boy, finding the adjustment screw inside the case on my newly acquired Chelsea barometer is a PITA. At least I shouldn't have to adjust it for awhile now.