With Black Friday almost here, you might be scrambling to finish your list for the busiest shopping day of the year. If you are stuck, you may want to consider weather instruments and toys. They make perfect stocking stuffers this holiday season.

At Brookstone, desktop "wireless weather centers" give information about temperature, winds and humidity. Be careful though, as the five day forecast it provides is only for select cities. It also comes with a heavy $100 price tag, and many reviews online say it is a battery guzzler. For only $30, their simpler indoor/outdoor thermometers still monitor temperatures, plus record the precise high and low temperature for your home that day.

One weather variable that can drastically change from town to town is rainfall. For those looking to maintain a perfect lawn or garden, a rain gage makes a great gift. By knowing exactly how much rain falls at your home, you can adjust your watering accordingly. An automated digital rain gage from Target or Home Depot also runs about $30.

The little ones may be dreaming of toys, but parents know it is never a bad idea for Santa to deliver some education as well. Check out the kids section in Border's and a couple of weather books help fill the science shelves. "The Magic School Bus Goes Inside a Hurricane" is a colorful read for ages 4 to 8. Al Gore's weather documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" also offers an easier read geared to a younger crowd.

Golf equipment is always a popular seller for the holidays. If you know someone who plays in the harshest of weather, umbrellas and rain jackets are typical gifts to keep them dry on the course next season. An interesting item found online can also keep them safe on the course; the Strike-Alert Personal Lightning Detector. Stick it in your golf bag and receive a warning when lightning is in the area. For just $70, it is a handheld version of the technology country clubs and the PGA Tour use to suspend play due to lightning.

Weather gadgets might not have the glitz and glamor of TVs, video games, or the latest fashion. But the right item for the right person can provide them a better understanding of the weather, and put that information to good use.