A method and system for reporting outside temperature. A temperature source continually provides a measure of outside temperature to a base station in a wireless communications system. The base station responsively inserts an indication of outside temperature into control channel messages and broadcasts the control channel messages for receipt by mobile stations being served by the base station. A mobile station receives the control channel messages, extracts the temperature indication from the messages, and continually displays an indication of outside temperature for viewing by a user. Conveniently, the temperature source can be a simple temperature gauge mounted to a base station tower or other entity in or near the cell site being served by the base station, so that mobile stations in the cell site can be made to display the local temperature.