diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 228f7f8..0cd443c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ Copyright (C)2020-2024 by John A Kline (john@johnkline.com)
    `pip install requests`
 
 1. Download the release from the [github](https://github.com/chaunceygardiner/weewx-nws).
-   Click on releases and pick the latest release (Release v4.5.2).
+   Click on releases and pick the latest release (Release v4.5.3).
 
 1. Install the nws extension.
 
-   `weectl extension install weewx-nws-4.5.2.zip`
+   `weectl extension install weewx-nws-4.5.3.zip`
 
 ## WeeWX 4 Installation Instructions
 
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@ Copyright (C)2020-2024 by John A Kline (john@johnkline.com)
    ```
 
 1. Download the release from the [github](https://github.com/chaunceygardiner/weewx-nws).
-   Click on releases and pick the latest release (Release v4.5.2).
+   Click on releases and pick the latest release (Release v4.5.3).
 
 1. Run the following command.
    ```
-   sudo /home/weewx/bin/wee_extension --install weewx-nws-4.5.2.zip
+   sudo /home/weewx/bin/wee_extension --install weewx-nws-4.5.3.zip
    ```
    Note: The above command assumes a WeeWX installation of `/home/weewx`.
          Adjust the command as necessary.
diff --git a/bin/user/nws.py b/bin/user/nws.py
index 0290eec..c6c87c8 100755
--- a/bin/user/nws.py
+++ b/bin/user/nws.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-WEEWX_NWS_VERSION = "4.5.2"
+WEEWX_NWS_VERSION = "4.5.3"
 
 if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
     raise weewx.UnsupportedFeature(
@@ -1342,7 +1342,6 @@ def sanity_check_forecast_json(j: Dict[str, Any], forecast_type: ForecastType) -
 
             err = NWSPoller.check_for_str_entries(period, [
                     ['windSpeed'],
-                    ['windDirection'],
                     ['name'],
                     ['temperatureTrend'],
                     ['icon'],
@@ -1354,6 +1353,12 @@ def sanity_check_forecast_json(j: Dict[str, Any], forecast_type: ForecastType) -
             if err:
                 return err
 
+            err = NWSPoller.check_for_str_entries(period, [
+                    ['windDirection'],
+                    ], allow_none = True)
+            if err:
+                return err
+
             try:
                 _ = datetime.datetime.fromisoformat(period['startTime']).timestamp()
             except Exception as e:
@@ -1934,9 +1939,12 @@ def test_requester(forecast_type: ForecastType, lat: float, long: float) -> None
 
         _, j = NWSPoller.request_forecast(cfg, forecast_type)
         if j is not None:
+            count: int = 0
             for forecast in NWSPoller.compose_records(j, forecast_type, cfg.latitude, cfg.longitude):
+                count += 1
                 pretty_print_forecast(forecast)
                 print('------------------------')
+            print('%d %s printed.' % (count, forecast_type))
         else:
             print('request_forecast returned None.')
 
@@ -2366,7 +2374,7 @@ def pretty_print_record(record, forecast_type) -> None:
             print('outHumidity     : %s' % (record['outHumidity'] if record['outHumidity'] is not None else 'None'))
             print('windSpeed       : %f' % record['windSpeed'])
             print('windSpeed2      : %s' % (record['windSpeed2'] if record['windSpeed2'] is not None else 'None'))
-            print('windDir         : %f' % record['windDir'])
+            print('windDir         : %s' % (record['windDir'] if record['windDir'] is not None else 'None'))
             print('iconUrl         : %s' % record['iconUrl'])
             print('shortForecast   : %s' % record['shortForecast'])
             print('detailedForecast: %s' % record['detailedForecast'])
diff --git a/changes.txt b/changes.txt
index a642091..b83cdcb 100644
--- a/changes.txt
+++ b/changes.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 nws change history
 ------------------
 
+4.5.3 07/27/2024
+- Print counts when executing --test-requester (used for testing).
+
 4.5.2 07/24/2024
 - Another import cleanup.
 - rename --test-parsing-all-alerts to --test-parse-all-alerts
diff --git a/install.py b/install.py
index 5d958d9..1715e00 100644
--- a/install.py
+++ b/install.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def loader():
 class NWSInstaller(ExtensionInstaller):
     def __init__(self):
         super(NWSInstaller, self).__init__(
-            version="4.5.2",
+            version="4.5.3",
             name='nws',
             description='Fetch NWS Hourly Forecast.',
             author="John A Kline",
diff --git a/skins/nws/skin.conf b/skins/nws/skin.conf
index d7c29a7..6123cef 100644
--- a/skins/nws/skin.conf
+++ b/skins/nws/skin.conf
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ## See LICENSE.txt for your rights
 
 [Extras]
-    version = 4.5.2
+    version = 4.5.3
 
 [CheetahGenerator]
     search_list_extensions = user.nws.NWSForecastVariables