API Web Service - National Weather Service
A free API providing access to critical weather forecasts, alerts, and observations.
About
The National Weather Service (NWS) API is a comprehensive weather data service that allows developers to access critical forecasts, alerts, observations, and other weather-related information. It uses a cache-friendly approach with content expiration based on the information lifecycle. The API is built on JSON-LD to promote machine data discovery and offers various data formats including GeoJSON, JSON-LD, DWML, OXML, CAP, and ATOM.
Key Features
- Access to forecasts, alerts, and observations
- Cache-friendly design with content expiration
- Multiple data formats supported (GeoJSON, JSON-LD, DWML, etc.)
- Open data, free to use for any purpose
- Content negotiation using headers
Use Cases
- Weather apps and websites
- Emergency management systems
- Agriculture and farming applications
- Transportation and logistics planning
- Outdoor event planning
Unique Aspects
Provides official U.S. government weather data with an open data policy and no usage fees.
Compatibilities
- Compatible with any system capable of making HTTP requests
- Supports various data formats for easy integration
Pros
- Free to use with no fees
- Comprehensive weather data coverage
- Multiple data formats for flexibility
- Open data policy
Cons
- Rate limits to prevent abuse (not publicly disclosed)
- Requires a User Agent for identification
- May require technical knowledge to implement
Our Rating
Ease of Use
4
Features
5
Value
5
Pricing
Free
$0/month
- Access to all weather data
- Multiple data formats
- Reasonable rate limits
As a public service of the United States Government, this API is free to use for any purpose.
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