Thermometer placement helps get accurate readings
One of the things I like most about being a weather specialist is connecting with people across Atlantic Canada and hearing about their local weather conditions.
Sometimes when I ask what the local weather is like, people will joke “well shouldn’t you know?” But here in Atlantic Canada it’s not uncommon to have localized differences in weather conditions, especially when there are large gaps between official observation stations.
I often notice larger discrepancies in temperature from someone’s home thermometer compared to nearby weather stations, especially in spring and summer.
This, of course, isn’t always uncommon, but there are some readings that raise a few eyebrows and make you wonder about the accuracy. This leads to the question:
where should I place my thermometer to get an accurate temperature reading?
It depends on what kind of thermometer you’re using.
Placing a thermometer with mercury in the shade, out of direct sunlight, and away from heat-absorbing surfaces is always most accurate. This is because the thermometer in direct sunlight will display the temperature of the surrounding environment and the added solar radiation heating the thermometer or a nearby surface.
The one exception to this is if you have a personal weather station, which have been rising in popularity. Many temperature sensors of at-home weather stations have radiation shields. This means they can still be placed in direct sunlight without jeopardizing accuracy.
So as the sun angle gets higher and warmer days are on the horizon, make sure your thermometer is in a suitable location.