Request real-time and forecasted weather data using Azure Maps Weather services
Azure Maps Weather services are a set of RESTful APIs that allows developers to integrate highly dynamic historical, real-time, and forecasted weather data and visualizations into their solutions.
This article demonstrates how to request both real-time and forecasted weather data:
- Request real-time (current) weather data using the Get Current Conditions API.
- Request severe weather alerts using the Get Severe Weather Alerts API.
- Request daily forecasts using the Get Daily Forecast API.
- Request hourly forecasts using the Get Hourly Forecast API.
- Request minute by minute forecasts using the Get Minute Forecast API.
This video provides examples for making REST calls to Azure Maps Weather services.
Prerequisites
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Important
The Get Minute Forecast API requires a Gen1 (S1) or Gen2 pricing tier.
This tutorial uses the Postman application, but you may choose a different API development environment.
Request real-time weather data
The Get Current Conditions API returns detailed weather conditions such as precipitation, temperature, and wind for a given coordinate location. Also, observations from the past 6 or 24 hours for a particular location can be retrieved. The response includes details like observation date and time, description of weather conditions, weather icon, precipitation indicator flags, and temperature. RealFeel™ Temperature and ultraviolet(UV) index are also returned.
In this example, you use the Get Current Conditions API to retrieve current weather conditions at coordinates located in Seattle, WA.
Open the Postman app. Select New to create the request. In the Create New window, select HTTP Request. Enter a Request name for the request.
Select the GET HTTP method in the builder tab and enter the following URL. For this request, and other requests mentioned in this article, replace
{Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}with your Azure Maps subscription key.https://atlas.microsoft.com/weather/currentConditions/json?api-version=1.0&query=47.60357,-122.32945&subscription-key={Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}Select the blue Send button. The response body contains current weather information.
{ "results": [ { "dateTime": "2020-10-19T20:39:00+00:00", "phrase": "Cloudy", "iconCode": 7, "hasPrecipitation": false, "isDayTime": true, "temperature": { "value": 12.4, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "realFeelTemperature": { "value": 13.7, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "realFeelTemperatureShade": { "value": 13.7, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "relativeHumidity": 87, "dewPoint": { "value": 10.3, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "wind": { "direction": { "degrees": 23.0, "localizedDescription": "NNE" }, "speed": { "value": 4.5, "unit": "km/h", "unitType": 7 } }, "windGust": { "speed": { "value": 9.0, "unit": "km/h", "unitType": 7 } }, "uvIndex": 1, "uvIndexPhrase": "Low", "visibility": { "value": 9.7, "unit": "km", "unitType": 6 }, "obstructionsToVisibility": "", "cloudCover": 100, "ceiling": { "value": 1494.0, "unit": "m", "unitType": 5 }, "pressure": { "value": 1021.2, "unit": "mb", "unitType": 14 }, "pressureTendency": { "localizedDescription": "Steady", "code": "S" }, "past24HourTemperatureDeparture": { "value": -2.1, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "apparentTemperature": { "value": 15.0, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "windChillTemperature": { "value": 12.2, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "wetBulbTemperature": { "value": 11.3, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "precipitationSummary": { "pastHour": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "past3Hours": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "past6Hours": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "past9Hours": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "past12Hours": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "past18Hours": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "past24Hours": { "value": 0.4, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 } }, "temperatureSummary": { "past6Hours": { "minimum": { "value": 12.2, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "maximum": { "value": 14.0, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 } }, "past12Hours": { "minimum": { "value": 12.2, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "maximum": { "value": 14.0, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 } }, "past24Hours": { "minimum": { "value": 12.2, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "maximum": { "value": 15.6, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 } } } } ] }
Request severe weather alerts
Azure Maps Get Severe Weather Alerts API returns the severe weather alerts that are available worldwide from both official Government Meteorological Agencies and leading global to regional weather alert providers. The service returns details like alert type, category, level. The service also returns detailed descriptions about the active severe alerts for the requested location, such as hurricanes, thunderstorms, lightning, heat waves or forest fires. As an example, logistics managers can visualize severe weather conditions on a map, along with business locations and planned routes, and coordinate further with drivers and local workers.
In this example, you use the Get Severe Weather Alerts API to retrieve current weather conditions at coordinates located in Cheyenne, WY.
Note
This example retrieves severe weather alerts at the time of this writing. It is likely that there are no longer any severe weather alerts at the requested location. To retrieve actual severe alert data when running this example, you'll need to retrieve data at a different coordinate location.
In the Postman app, select New to create the request. In the Create New window, select HTTP Request. Enter a Request name for the request.
Select the GET HTTP method in the builder tab and enter the following URL. For this request, and other requests mentioned in this article, replace
{Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}with your Azure Maps subscription key.https://atlas.microsoft.com/weather/severe/alerts/json?api-version=1.0&query=41.161079,-104.805450&subscription-key={Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}Select the blue Send button. If there are no severe weather alerts, the response body contains an empty
results[]array. If there are severe weather alerts, the response body contains something like the following JSON response:{ "results": [ { "countryCode": "US", "alertId": 2194734, "description": { "localized": "Red Flag Warning", "english": "Red Flag Warning" }, "category": "FIRE", "priority": 54, "source": "U.S. National Weather Service", "sourceId": 2, "alertAreas": [ { "name": "Platte/Goshen/Central and Eastern Laramie", "summary": "Red Flag Warning in effect until 7:00 PM MDT. Source: U.S. National Weather Service", "startTime": "2020-10-05T15:00:00+00:00", "endTime": "2020-10-06T01:00:00+00:00", "latestStatus": { "localized": "Continue", "english": "Continue" }, "alertDetails": "...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO\n7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...\n\n* WHERE...Fire weather zones 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309,\n and 310 in southeast Wyoming. Fire weather zone 313 in Nebraska.\n\n* WIND...West to northwest 15 to 30 MPH with gusts around 40 MPH.\n\n* HUMIDITY...10 to 15 percent.\n\n* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.\n Outdoor burning is not recommended.\n\nPRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...\n\nA Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions\nare either occurring now...or will shortly. A combination of\nstrong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can\ncontribute to extreme fire behavior.\n\n&&", "alertDetailsLanguageCode": "en" } ] },... ] }
Request daily weather forecast data
The Get Daily Forecast API returns detailed daily weather forecast such as temperature and wind. The request can specify how many days to return: 1, 5, 10, 15, 25, or 45 days for a given coordinate location. The response includes details such as temperature, wind, precipitation, air quality, and UV index. In this example, we request for five days by setting duration=5.
Important
In the S0 pricing tier, you can request daily forecast for the next 1, 5, 10, and 15 days. In either Gen1 (S1) or Gen2 pricing tier, you can request daily forecast for the next 25 days, and 45 days.
Azure Maps Gen1 pricing tier retirement
Gen1 pricing tier is now deprecated and will be retired on 9/15/26. Gen2 pricing tier replaces Gen1 (both S0 and S1) pricing tier. If your Azure Maps account has Gen1 pricing tier selected, you can switch to Gen2 pricing before it’s retired, otherwise it will automatically be updated. For more information, see Manage the pricing tier of your Azure Maps account.
In this example, you use the Get Daily Forecast API to retrieve the five-day weather forecast for coordinates located in Seattle, WA.
In the Postman app, select New to create the request. In the Create New window, select HTTP Request. Enter a Request name for the request.
Select the GET HTTP method in the builder tab and enter the following URL. For this request, and other requests mentioned in this article, replace
{Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}with your Azure Maps subscription key.https://atlas.microsoft.com/weather/forecast/daily/json?api-version=1.0&query=47.60357,-122.32945&duration=5&subscription-key={Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}Select the blue Send button. The response body contains the five-day weather forecast data. For the sake of brevity, the following JSON response shows the forecast for the first day.
{ "summary": { "startDate": "2020-10-18T17:00:00+00:00", "endDate": "2020-10-19T23:00:00+00:00", "severity": 2, "phrase": "Snow, mixed with rain at times continuing through Monday evening and a storm total of 3-6 cm", "category": "snow/rain" }, "forecasts": [ { "date": "2020-10-19T04:00:00+00:00", "temperature": { "minimum": { "value": -1.1, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "maximum": { "value": 1.3, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 } }, "realFeelTemperature": { "minimum": { "value": -6.0, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "maximum": { "value": 0.5, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 } }, "realFeelTemperatureShade": { "minimum": { "value": -6.0, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "maximum": { "value": 0.7, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 } }, "hoursOfSun": 1.8, "degreeDaySummary": { "heating": { "value": 18.0, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "cooling": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 } }, "airAndPollen": [ { "name": "AirQuality", "value": 23, "category": "Good", "categoryValue": 1, "type": "Ozone" }, { "name": "Grass", "value": 0, "category": "Low", "categoryValue": 1 }, { "name": "Mold", "value": 0, "category": "Low", "categoryValue": 1 }, { "name": "Ragweed", "value": 0, "category": "Low", "categoryValue": 1 }, { "name": "Tree", "value": 0, "category": "Low", "categoryValue": 1 }, { "name": "UVIndex", "value": 0, "category": "Low", "categoryValue": 1 } ], "day": { "iconCode": 22, "iconPhrase": "Snow", "hasPrecipitation": true, "precipitationType": "Mixed", "precipitationIntensity": "Light", "shortPhrase": "Chilly with snow, 2-4 cm", "longPhrase": "Chilly with snow, accumulating an additional 2-4 cm", "precipitationProbability": 90, "thunderstormProbability": 0, "rainProbability": 54, "snowProbability": 85, "iceProbability": 8, "wind": { "direction": { "degrees": 36.0, "localizedDescription": "NE" }, "speed": { "value": 9.3, "unit": "km/h", "unitType": 7 } }, "windGust": { "direction": { "degrees": 70.0, "localizedDescription": "ENE" }, "speed": { "value": 25.9, "unit": "km/h", "unitType": 7 } }, "totalLiquid": { "value": 4.3, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "rain": { "value": 0.5, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "snow": { "value": 2.72, "unit": "cm", "unitType": 4 }, "ice": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "hoursOfPrecipitation": 9.0, "hoursOfRain": 1.0, "hoursOfSnow": 9.0, "hoursOfIce": 0.0, "cloudCover": 96 }, "night": { "iconCode": 29, "iconPhrase": "Rain and snow", "hasPrecipitation": true, "precipitationType": "Mixed", "precipitationIntensity": "Light", "shortPhrase": "Showers of rain and snow", "longPhrase": "A couple of showers of rain or snow this evening; otherwise, cloudy; storm total snowfall 1-3 cm", "precipitationProbability": 65, "thunderstormProbability": 0, "rainProbability": 60, "snowProbability": 54, "iceProbability": 4, "wind": { "direction": { "degrees": 16.0, "localizedDescription": "NNE" }, "speed": { "value": 16.7, "unit": "km/h", "unitType": 7 } }, "windGust": { "direction": { "degrees": 1.0, "localizedDescription": "N" }, "speed": { "value": 35.2, "unit": "km/h", "unitType": 7 } }, "totalLiquid": { "value": 4.3, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "rain": { "value": 3.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "snow": { "value": 0.79, "unit": "cm", "unitType": 4 }, "ice": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "hoursOfPrecipitation": 4.0, "hoursOfRain": 1.0, "hoursOfSnow": 3.0, "hoursOfIce": 0.0, "cloudCover": 94 }, "sources": [ "AccuWeather" ] },... ] }
Request hourly weather forecast data
The Get Hourly Forecast API returns detailed weather forecast by the hour for the next 1, 12, 24 (1 day), 72 (3 days), 120 (5 days), and 240 hours (10 days) for the given coordinate location. The API returns details such as temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and UV index.
Important
In the Gen1 (S0) pricing tier, you can request hourly forecast for the next 1, 12, 24 hours (1 day), and 72 hours (3 days). In either Gen1 (S1) or Gen2 pricing tier, you can request hourly forecast for the next 120 (5 days) and 240 hours (10 days).
In this example, you use the Get Hourly Forecast API to retrieve the hourly weather forecast for the next 12 hours at coordinates located in Seattle, WA.
In the Postman app, select New to create the request. In the Create New window, select HTTP Request. Enter a Request name for the request.
Select the GET HTTP method in the builder tab and enter the following URL. For this request, and other requests mentioned in this article, replace
{Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}with your Azure Maps subscription key.https://atlas.microsoft.com/weather/forecast/hourly/json?api-version=1.0&query=47.60357,-122.32945&duration=12&subscription-key={Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}Select the blue Send button. The response body contains weather forecast data for the next 12 hours. For the sake of brevity, the following JSON response shows the forecast for the first hour.
{ "forecasts": [ { "date": "2020-10-19T21:00:00+00:00", "iconCode": 12, "iconPhrase": "Showers", "hasPrecipitation": true, "precipitationType": "Rain", "precipitationIntensity": "Light", "isDaylight": true, "temperature": { "value": 14.7, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "realFeelTemperature": { "value": 13.3, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "wetBulbTemperature": { "value": 12.0, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "dewPoint": { "value": 9.5, "unit": "C", "unitType": 17 }, "wind": { "direction": { "degrees": 242.0, "localizedDescription": "WSW" }, "speed": { "value": 9.3, "unit": "km/h", "unitType": 7 } }, "windGust": { "speed": { "value": 14.8, "unit": "km/h", "unitType": 7 } }, "relativeHumidity": 71, "visibility": { "value": 9.7, "unit": "km", "unitType": 6 }, "cloudCover": 100, "ceiling": { "value": 1128.0, "unit": "m", "unitType": 5 }, "uvIndex": 1, "uvIndexPhrase": "Low", "precipitationProbability": 51, "rainProbability": 51, "snowProbability": 0, "iceProbability": 0, "totalLiquid": { "value": 0.3, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "rain": { "value": 0.3, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 }, "snow": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "cm", "unitType": 4 }, "ice": { "value": 0.0, "unit": "mm", "unitType": 3 } }... ] }
Request minute-by-minute weather forecast data
The Get Minute Forecast API returns minute-by-minute forecasts for a given location for the next 120 minutes. Users can request weather forecasts in intervals of 1, 5 and 15 minutes. The response includes details such as the type of precipitation (including rain, snow, or a mixture of both), start time, and precipitation intensity value (dBZ).
In this example, you use the Get Minute Forecast API to retrieve the minute-by-minute weather forecast at coordinates located in Seattle, WA. The weather forecast is given for the next 120 minutes. Our query requests that the forecast is given at 15-minute intervals, but you can adjust the parameter to be either 1 or 5 minutes.
In the Postman app, select New to create the request. In the Create New window, select HTTP Request. Enter a Request name for the request.
Select the GET HTTP method in the builder tab and enter the following URL. For this request, and other requests mentioned in this article, replace
{Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}with your Azure Maps subscription key.https://atlas.microsoft.com/weather/forecast/minute/json?api-version=1.0&query=47.60357,-122.32945&interval=15&subscription-key={Your-Azure-Maps-Subscription-key}Select the blue Send button. The response body contains weather forecast data for the next 120 minutes, in 15-minute intervals.
{ "summary": { "briefPhrase60": "No precipitation for at least 60 min", "shortPhrase": "No precip for 120 min", "briefPhrase": "No precipitation for at least 120 min", "longPhrase": "No precipitation for at least 120 min", "iconCode": 7 }, "intervalSummaries": [ { "startMinute": 0, "endMinute": 119, "totalMinutes": 120, "shortPhrase": "No precip for %MINUTE_VALUE min", "briefPhrase": "No precipitation for at least %MINUTE_VALUE min", "longPhrase": "No precipitation for at least %MINUTE_VALUE min", "iconCode": 7 } ], "intervals": [ { "startTime": "2020-10-19T20:51:00+00:00", "minute": 0, "dbz": 0.0, "shortPhrase": "No Precipitation", "iconCode": 7, "cloudCover": 100 }, { "startTime": "2020-10-19T21:06:00+00:00", "minute": 15, "dbz": 0.0, "shortPhrase": "No Precipitation", "iconCode": 7, "cloudCover": 100 }, { "startTime": "2020-10-19T21:21:00+00:00", "minute": 30, "dbz": 0.0, "shortPhrase": "No Precipitation", "iconCode": 7, "cloudCover": 100 }, { "startTime": "2020-10-19T21:36:00+00:00", "minute": 45, "dbz": 0.0, "shortPhrase": "No Precipitation", "iconCode": 7, "cloudCover": 100 }, { "startTime": "2020-10-19T21:51:00+00:00", "minute": 60, "dbz": 0.0, "shortPhrase": "No Precipitation", "iconCode": 7, "cloudCover": 100 }, { "startTime": "2020-10-19T22:06:00+00:00", "minute": 75, "dbz": 0.0, "shortPhrase": "No Precipitation", "iconCode": 7, "cloudCover": 100 }, { "startTime": "2020-10-19T22:21:00+00:00", "minute": 90, "dbz": 0.0, "shortPhrase": "No Precipitation", "iconCode": 7, "cloudCover": 100 }, { "startTime": "2020-10-19T22:36:00+00:00", "minute": 105, "dbz": 0.0, "shortPhrase": "No Precipitation", "iconCode": 7, "cloudCover": 100 } ] }
Next steps
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