OpenWeatherMap

OpenWeatherMap is a weather data platform that provides APIs for developers to access current conditions, forecasts, historical weather, and weather maps. It serves individuals and businesses by supplying weather information for locations worldwide. The service aggregates observations and model data from multiple sources, including meteorological services, weather stations, satellites, and radar networks. Data are delivered via RESTful APIs in JSON or XML formats, with options to specify units (metric, imperial, or standard) and language. An API key is required for access, and usage is governed by service plans.

Key offerings include a Current Weather Data API, a 5 Day / 3 Hour Forecast API, and a 16 Day Daily Forecast API, as well as Weather Maps that provide tile layers for precipitation, temperature, wind, and cloud cover. The platform also provides Historical Weather Data, an Air Pollution API, and a UV Index API. Additional features aim to support localization, map-based visualization, and integration with other services, including geocoding and timezone data within the ecosystem.

Access and licensing are structured around free and paid tiers. The free plan typically provides a limited number of API calls and requires attribution. Paid plans offer higher quotas, broader feature access, and commercial licensing terms. OpenWeatherMap emphasizes developer empowerment through documentation, client libraries for multiple programming languages, and community resources to assist integration and troubleshooting.

Uses of the platform include mobile apps, websites, Internet of Things projects, and research applications. The service is designed to be platform-agnostic, enabling integration into dashboards, alert systems, and data-driven analyses across various industries.