Are Bank Thermometers Accurate?

During summer and winter, we all want to know the temperature.  And you usually don't need to look far to find out.  The digital readings are seemingly found everywhere.  Some signs outside banks and grocery stores are very accurate, and some may not be as accurate.

One issue is the placement of the sensor. If the thermometer is near pavement, you'll often notice a much higher reading.  That's because blacktop absorbs much more heat.  If you've worked outside on a hot day, you know the difference.  And while that doesn't make the temperature wrong, it just doesn't represent what some areas are feeling. 

Other banks subscribe to a service that pumps in current information from the official site, often at an airport.  These numbers don't come in as often, but are more reliable.
 
Location is also factor when you look at the temperature your car gives you.  If your thermometer is near the engine or air intake, heat will contaminate the reading. 

Parking your vehicle in direct sunlight leads to a spiked temperature when you turn the car on.  Once you drive for a few miles, the temperature often drops as fresh air moves through the car. 

So, while many of these numbers aren't false, the temperatures may not tell the whole story.