Data API Examples
Below are listed examples for each of the data API scripts. You can also use the API builder to construct your own requests.
METARs
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Single station | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD | Returns the latest METAR from a station |
| Single station, multiple hours | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD&hours=12 | Returns the last 12 hours of METAR from a station |
| Single station, decoded output | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD&format=decoded | Outputs decoded data |
| Single station, ADDS XML output | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD&format=xml | Outputs ADDS Dataserver compatible XML |
| Single station, IWXXM output | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD&format=iwxxm | Returns IWXXM ver 3 |
| JSON output | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD&format=json | Returns JSON output |
| Multiple stations | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD,KSEA,KATL | Returns the latest METAR from a set of stations |
| Multiple station, ADDS XML output | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD,KSEA,KATL&format=xml | Outputs ADDS Dataserver compatible XML |
| Multiple station, IWXXM output | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD,KSEA,KATL&format=iwxxm | Returns IWXXM ver 3, embeds within collection |
| Multiple stations, lists | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=@TOP | Returns the latest METAR from a preset of stations |
| Multiple stations, state | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=@NY | Returns the latest METAR from a preset of stations |
| Multiple stations, bounding box | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?bbox=35,-95,40,-85 | Returns the latest METAR from a preset of stations |
| Include TAF | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD,KJFK&taf=on | |
| Last minute | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=all&latest=1 | Last minute based on receipt time |
| Archived data | /cgi-bin/data/metar.php?ids=KORD,KJFK&date=202207301200 | Return data from 12Z on 30 July 2022 |
TAFs
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Single station | /cgi-bin/data/taf.php?ids=KORD | Returns the latest TAF from a station |
| Single station, multiple hours | /cgi-bin/data/taf.php?ids=KORD&hours=12 | Returns the last 12 hours of TAFs from a station |
| Single station, decoded output | /cgi-bin/data/taf.php?ids=KORD&format=decoded | Outputs decoded data |
| Single station, HTML output | /cgi-bin/data/taf.php?ids=KORD&format=html | Outputs decoded data in HTML format |
| Single station, ADDS XML output | /cgi-bin/data/taf.php?ids=KORD&format=xml | Outputs ADDS Dataserver compatible XML |
| Single station, IWXXM output | /cgi-bin/data/taf.php?ids=KORD&format=iwxxm | Returns IWXXM ver 3 |
| Multiple stations, bounding box | /cgi-bin/data/taf.php?bbox=35,-95,40,-85 | |
| Include METAR | /cgi-bin/data/taf.php?ids=KORD&metar=on | |
| Last 5 minutes | /cgi-bin/data/taf.php?ids=all&latest=5 | Last 5 minutes based on receipt time |
PIREPs
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Near a station | /cgi-bin/data/pirep.php?id=KORD | Returns the latest AIREPs/PIREPs within 200 sm of KORD |
| Decoded output | /cgi-bin/data/pirep.php?id=KORD&format=decoded | Returns the latest AIREPs/PIREPs in decoded format |
| HTML output | /cgi-bin/data/pirep.php?id=KORD&format=html | Returns the latest AIREPs/PIREPs in HTML |
| ADDS XML output | /cgi-bin/data/pirep.php?id=KORD&format=xml | Outputs ADDS Dataserver compatible XML |
| Age | /cgi-bin/data/pirep.php?id=KORD&age=4 | Shows PIREPs for last 4 hours |
| Distance | /cgi-bin/data/pirep.php?id=KORD&distance=300 | Shows PIREPs for 300 sm radius from KORD |
| Bounding box | /cgi-bin/data/pirep.php?bbox=35,-95,40,-85 | |
| Type | /cgi-bin/data/pirep.php?id=KORD&type=turb | Shows turbulence PIREPs |
| Type | /cgi-bin/data/pirep.php?id=KORD&type=icing | Shows icing PIREPs |
CONUS AIRMETs/SIGMETs
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latest SIGMETs | /cgi-bin/data/airsigmet.php | Returns the active SIGMETs |
| HTML output | /cgi-bin/data/airsigmet.php?format=html | Outputs HTML like old website |
| ADDS XML output | /cgi-bin/data/airsigmet.php?format=xml | Outputs ADDS Dataserver compatible XML |
| Output for specific location | /cgi-bin/data/airsigmet.php?loc=bos | Outputs AIRMET/SIGMETs for Boston region |
| Output for specific hazard | /cgi-bin/data/airsigmet.php?hazard=turb | Outputs turbulence AIRMET/SIGMETs |
| Output by type | /cgi-bin/data/airsigmet.php?type=sigmet | Outputs only SIGMETs. Options are airmet,sigmet |
International SIGMETs
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latest SIGMETs | /cgi-bin/data/isigmet.php | Returns the active SIGMETs |
| HTML output | /cgi-bin/data/isigmet.php?format=html | Outputs HTML like old website |
| ADDS XML output | /cgi-bin/data/isigmet.php?format=xml | Outputs ADDS Dataserver compatible XML |
| Output for specific location | /cgi-bin/data/isigmet.php?loc=eur | Outputs SIGMETs for Europe region |
| Output for specific hazard | /cgi-bin/data/isigmet.php?hazard=turb | Outputs turbulence SIGMETs |
G-AIRMETs
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latest G-AIRMETs, decoded output | /cgi-bin/data/gairmet.php | Returns the active G-AIRMETs |
| ADDS XML output | /cgi-bin/data/gairmet.php?format=xml | Outputs ADDS Dataserver compatible XML |
Center Weather Advisories
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latest CWAs | /cgi-bin/data/cwa.php | Returns the active CWAs |
| Latest CWA by CWSU | /cgi-bin/data/cwa.php?loc=zma | Returns active CWAs from Miami |
| Latest CWA by hazard | /cgi-bin/data/cwa.php?hazard=ts | Returns active thunderstorm CWAs |
| Latest CWA in XML format | /cgi-bin/data/cwa.php?format=xml | Returns active CWAs |
| Latest CWA in JSON format | /cgi-bin/data/cwa.php?format=json | Returns active CWAs |
| Latest MIS | /cgi-bin/data/mis.php | Returns the active MISs |
WFO Area Forecast Discussions
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latest Aviation Forecast Discussion | /cgi-bin/data/fcstdisc.php?cwa=keax | Returns the aviation discussion for Pleasant Hill MO |
| Latest Forecast Discussion | /cgi-bin/data/fcstdisc.php?cwa=keax&type=af | Returns the full discussion for Pleasant Hill MO |
OCONUS Area Forecasts
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latest area forecasts for Gulf | /cgi-bin/data/areafcst.php?region=gulf | |
| Latest area forecasts for southern Alaska | /cgi-bin/data/areafcst.php?region=aksouth | Region possibilities are gulf, carib, hawaii, aknorth, akcentral, akaleutian, aksouthwest, aksouth, aksoutheast, akpanhandle |
FB Wind Temperature Data
| Type | Examples | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latest FB Winds for a region | /cgi-bin/data/windtemp.php?region=chi | Returns the FB wind data for Chicago region |
| Latest by forecast time | /cgi-bin/data/windtemp.php?region=chi&fcst=24 | Returns the 24 hr forecasts |
| Latest by level | /cgi-bin/data/windtemp.php?region=chi&level=high | Returns the upper level forecasts |
| Decoded as JSON | /cgi-bin/data/windtemp.php?level=240&fcst=12&format=json | Returns JSON output for flight level 240 and forecast 12hr |
Station Info
| Station Info for a site | /cgi-bin/data/stationinfo.php?ids=KORD | Returns information on a site |
| ADDS XML output | /cgi-bin/data/stationinfo.php?ids=KORD&format=xml | Outputs ADDS Dataserver compatible XML |
METAR data
| stationString - delimited by white space or commas | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&stationString=KDEN KSEA PHNL&hoursBeforeNow=2 | Obtain all available METARs for KDEN, KSEA and PHNL from the past two hours |
| stationString - using partial icaoIds | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&stationString=KSEA KDE&hoursBeforeNow=3 | Obtain METARs for KSEA and all icaoIds beginning with KDE (i.e. KDEN, KDEH, KDEW, ...etc.) from the past three hours |
| stationString - using '@' and two-letter U.S. state (or two-letter Canadian province) abbreviation to obtain METARS for a state | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&stationString=@WA&hoursBeforeNow=1 | Obtain METARs for all icaoIds from Washington state for the past hour |
| stationString - using '~' and two-letter country abbreviation to obtain METARS for a country | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&stationString=~au&hoursBeforeNow=1 | Obtain METARs for all icaoIds from Australia for the past hour |
| startTime, endTime - start and end times in seconds since January 1, 1970 | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&startTime=beg_secs&endTime=end_secs&stationString=PHTO | Obtain all METARs for PHTO collected between these start and end times |
| startTime, endTime - start and end times in ISO8601 format | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&startTime=beg_iso&endTime=end_iso&stationString=PHTO | Obtain all METARs for PHTO collected between these start and end times |
| hoursBeforeNow - any positive integer or floating point value | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&stationString=KDEN&hoursBeforeNow=3 | Obtain all METARs for PHTO collected between these start and end times |
| mostRecent - get the single most recent METAR (only one value is returned) | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&stationString=PHNL KSEA&hoursBeforeNow=3&mostRecent=true | Obtain the single most recent METAR from the past three hours. Only one METAR is returned. |
mostRecentForEachStation -
| /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=1.25&mostRecentForEachStation=constraint&stationString=KDE | use the constraint method to retrieve the most recent METAR for all KDE* stations that were reported in the past hour and fifteen minutes. Note: this is not appropriate for historical data retrieval. |
| mostRecentForEachStation - postfilter | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&startTime=beg_secs&endTime=end_secs&mostRecentForEachStation=postfilter&stationString=KORD,PHKO,KSEA,KSFO | Obtain the METARS for PHTO, PHKO, KSEA and KSFO from the indicated start and end times, using the postfilter method. Return only the most recent for each of these stations within the time range. |
| minLat, minLon, maxLat, maxLon - lon-lat rectangle in decimal degrees | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=metars&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&minLat=25&minLon=-130&maxLat=65&maxLon=-40&hoursBeforeNow=3 | obtain METARs collected within the last 3 hours for a rectangular region (bounding box) defined by the min and max lon and lat |
TAF data
| stationString - delimited by white space or commas | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=tafs&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&stationString=KDEN KSEA,PHNL&hoursBeforeNow=4 | Obtain all available TAFs for KDEN, KSEA and PHNL |
| startTime, endTime, timeType (optional) - start and end times in seconds since January 1, 1970. timeType=issue or valid (default) | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=tafs&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&startTime=beg_secs&endTime=end_secs&timeType=issue&stationString=KORD | Obtain all TAFs for KORD for issue times between these start and end times |
| startTime, endTime, timeType (optional) | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=tafs&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&startTime=beg_iso&endTime=end_iso&timeType=valid&stationString=KORD | Obtain all TAFs for KORD for valid times between these start and end times |
| hoursBeforeNow, timeType (optional) | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=tafs&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&stationString=KDEN&hoursBeforeNow=3&timeType=issue | Obtain all TAFs in the last three hours based on issue time for KDEN |
| mostRecent - get the single most recent TAF, only one result is returned | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=tafs&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=3&timeType=issue&mostRecent=true&stationString=PHNL KSEA | Request the most recent of the two icaoId's KSEA and PHNL from three hours ago, based on issue time. Only one TAF is returned, the most recent of the two from three hours ago. |
mostRecentForEachStation -
| /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=tafs&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=2&mostRecentForEachStation=constraint&stationString=KDE | obtain the most recent TAF for each station that was reported in the past two hours from stations starting with KDE. The 'constraint' type should not be used for historical data retrieval |
| mostRecentForEachStation - postfilter | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=tafs&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=2&mostRecentForEachStation=postfilter&stationString=KORD,PHKO,KSEA,KSFO | Use the postfilter method to obtain the TAFS for KORD, PHKO, KSEA and KSFO from the indicated start and end times. From those results, return only the most recent for each of these stations. |
| minLat, minLon, maxLat, maxLon - lon-lat rectangle in decimal degrees | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=tafs&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&minLat=25&minLon=-130&maxLat=65&maxLon=-40&hoursBeforeNow=3 | obtain TAFs valid within the last 3 hours for a rectangular region (bounding box) defined by the min and max lon and lat |
AIREP/PIREP data
| startTime, endTime - start and end times in seconds since January 1, 1970. | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=aircraftreports&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&startTime=beg_secs&endTime=end_secs | Obtain all aircraft reports collected between the start and end times |
| hoursBeforeNow | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=aircraftreports&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=1 | Obtain all aircraft reports collected in the last hour |
| minLat, minLon, maxLat, maxLon - lon-lat rectangle in decimal degrees | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=aircraftreports&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&minLat=25&minLon=-130&maxLat=65&maxLon=-40&hoursBeforeNow=3 | obtain aircraft reports collected within the last 3 hours for a rectangular region (bounding box) defined by the min and max lon and lat |
| radialDistance - circular area based on lat,lon and radial distance: distance in sm,longitude,latitude | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=aircraftreports&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&radialDistance=20;-105,39&hoursBeforeNow=3 | obtain aircraft reports collected within the last 3 hours for a circular region defined by the lat, lon and distance |
| minAltitudeFt, maxAltitudeFt | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=aircraftreports&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&minAltitudeFt=10000&maxAltitudeFt=40000&hoursBeforeNow=2 | Obtain all reports valid within an altitude range of 10000 to 40000 feet, collected in the last 2 hours |
AIRMETs and SIGMETs
| startTime, endTime - start and end times in seconds since January 1, 1970. | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=airsigmets&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&startTime=beg_secs&endTime=end_secs | Obtain all products collected between the start and end times |
| hoursBeforeNow | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=airsigmets&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=1 | Obtain all products collected in the last hour |
| minAltitudeFt, maxAltitudeFt | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=airsigmets&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&minAltitudeFt=10000&maxAltitudeFt=40000&hoursBeforeNow=2 | Obtain all products valid within an altitude range of 10000 to 40000 feet, collected in the last 2 hours |
| minLat, minLon, maxLat, maxLon - lon-lat rectangle in decimal degrees | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=airsigmets&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&minLat=25&minLon=-130&maxLat=65&maxLon=-40&hoursBeforeNow=3 | obtain products collected within the last 3 hours for a rectangular region (bounding box) defined by the min and max lon and lat |
G-AIRMETs
| startTime, endTime - start and end times in seconds since January 1, 1970. | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=gairmets&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&startTime=beg_secs&endTime=end_secs | Obtain all products valid between the start and end times |
| hoursBeforeNow | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=gairmets&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=3 | Obtain all products collected in the last 3 hours |
| mostRecentForEachProduct - postfilter | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=gairmets&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&hoursBeforeNow=3&mostRecentForEachProduct=postfilter | Use the postfilter method to obtain the latest SIERRA, TANGO and ZULU products. |
| minAltitudeFt, maxAltitudeFt | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=gairmets&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&minAltitudeFt=10000&maxAltitudeFt=40000&hoursBeforeNow=2 | Obtain all products valid within an altitude range of 10000 to 40000 feet, collected in the last 2 hours |
| minLat, minLon, maxLat, maxLon - lon-lat rectangle in decimal degrees | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=gairmets&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&minLat=25&minLon=-130&maxLat=65&maxLon=-40&hoursBeforeNow=3 | obtain products collected within the last 3 hours for a rectangular region (bounding box) defined by the min and max lon and lat |
Station information
| stationString - delimited by white space or comma | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?idataSource=stations&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&stationString=KDEN KSEA, PHNL ZWWW KATL | obtain station information for KDEN, KSEA and PHNL |
| minLat, minLon, maxLat, maxLon - lon-lat rectangle in decimal degrees | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=stations&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&minLat=25&minLon=-130&maxLat=65&maxLon=-40 | obtain products collected within the last 3 hours for a rectangular region (bounding box) defined by the min and max lon and lat |
| radialDistance - circular area based on lat,lon and radial distance: distance in sm,longitude,latitude | /cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?dataSource=stations&requestType=retrieve&format=xml&radialDistance=20;-105,39 | obtain statopm information for a circular region defined by the lat, lon and distance |
Cache
Access to all current observations and forecasts in one file, updated once a minute.
| /data/cache/metars.cache.xml.gz | All current METARs (XML) - gzip'd |
| /data/cache/metars.cache.csv.gz | All current METARs (CSV) - gzip'd |
| /data/cache/tafs.cache.xml.gz | All current TAFs (XML) - gzip'd |
| /data/cache/tafs.cache.csv.gz | All current TAFs (CSV) - gzip'd |
| /data/cache/airsigmets.cache.xml.gz | All current AIRMETs/SIGMETs (XML) - gzip'd |
| /data/cache/aircraftreports.cache.xml.gz | All current AIREPs/PIREPs (XML) - gzip'd |