Getting the jump on stormy weather.

• Position: Weather forecasting equipments - Buyers guide - Brief article

Regardless of what's going on in the world, it seems the biggest stories in the news revolve around the weather. Whether in the form of a tease ("Is the snow headed our way? Find out at 11 ...") or a program interruption ("There's a severe thunderstorm watch in the following counties ..."), station managers can't wait to bring us up-to-date. If there's a significant event happening, we're in for wall-to-wall coverage, and not just from the studio. In fact, we're often stunned to see broadcasters and meteorologists actually put themselves in harm's way to bring viewers live pictures of hurricanes and other major storms. Thankfully, we don't have to step outside to know it's raining. We're quite satisfied to get our information from our Professional Weather Center.

This device, from La Crosse Technology, La Crosse, Wis., in conjunction with The Weather Channel, gives us everything we need to know about the conditions outside our front door. In addition to providing outdoor temperature and humidity readings, it displays the barometric and relative air pressure; wind chill, speed, and direction; and total rainfall. Based on all this information, the Professional Weather Center ($149.95) gives the forecast and tendency.

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