Author Topic: So is api.weather.gov still considered beta?  (Read 2752 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline dnavarrojr

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 43
    • Weather Center
So is api.weather.gov still considered beta?
« on: January 07, 2019, 07:04:25 AM »
I am running into issues with forecast data using the "forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php" XML interface.  I can't target specific stations with it, unless I do a LOT of messing with the LAT/LON coordinates.

I'm using Geocodio to convert zipcodes into LAT/LON coordinates, but they often don't match the nearest airport.  So I have to spend time messing with LAT/LON until I get the right numbers to the airport using the MapClick interface.  What's TRULY ODD is that if I put in a zip code using the web interface, I get the correct station.  I then copy the LAT/LON coordinates into my code and I still don't get the correct station.

I built my own database of Zipcodes to Stations, but I can't target the stations for Forecast data, only current weather unless I use the new API interface.  But even then I don't get the same data I get from MapClick.... It's all a big mess.
Dave Navarro, Jr. - The Weather Center
https://weathercenter.us

Offline Maumelle Weather

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1824
    • Maumelle Weather
Re: So is api.weather.gov still considered beta?
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2019, 07:09:10 AM »
I'm pretty sure Ken said this is still in beta, which is why I am running version 4.05 of the advforecast2.php script on my site.
GR2AE, GR3, Cumulus

Offline saratogaWX

  • Administrator
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 9244
  • Saratoga, CA, USA Weather - free PHP scripts
    • Saratoga-Weather.org
Re: So is api.weather.gov still considered beta?
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2019, 10:38:06 AM »
Yes, it's still in Beta with no time announced for implementation into production.  That applies to api.weather.gov and forecast-v3.weather.gov sites.

Ken True/Saratoga, CA, USA main site: saratoga-weather.org
Davis VP1+ FARS, Blitzortung RED, GRLevel3, WD, WL, VWS, Cumulus, Meteobridge
Free weather PHP scripts/website templates - update notifications on Twitter saratogaWXPHP

Offline Jasiu

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 946
    • LexMAWeather
Re: So is api.weather.gov still considered beta?
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2019, 03:27:43 PM »
It probably means creating a different topic / question to better fit, but could you explain in detail what you are trying to accomplish? From my read (although I do miss things... :grin:) it seems that you are trying to get the forecast for the nearest airport location for any given location (lat/long). That's why it isn't making sense for me. In my case, I want *my* point forecast, not the one for the nearest airport, which in my case happens to be in a different forecast zone.

But anyway, I'm sure I'm missing something, so if you feel like going into detail, someone might come up with a solution.
https://lexmaweather.info
On Mastodon: @LexMAWeather@toot.community

Offline dnavarrojr

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 43
    • Weather Center
Re: So is api.weather.gov still considered beta?
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2019, 08:52:22 PM »
My issue is that forecast.weather.gov is not accurate. It does not, in fact, show the closest airport to those coordinates.  I have put in the EXACT coordinates for an airport and still got a smaller airport nearby.

In one case (I can't remember which) the coordinates using forecast.weather.gov to target a specific airport are, in fact, 1.8 miles off from the actual coordinates of the airport tower, in the middle of a corn field.

I am working on a weather widget for 487 radio stations/web sites owned by my employer.  And I want to target very specific airports/weather stations for each location.  Doing it by geocordinates has proven difficult.

I may just use api.weather.gov anyway, which does allow me to just specify the station name that I want for forecast data.

Dave Navarro, Jr. - The Weather Center
https://weathercenter.us

Offline dnavarrojr

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 43
    • Weather Center
Re: So is api.weather.gov still considered beta?
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2019, 12:07:15 AM »
If anyone is interested, I downloaded data from the API to build a CSV with Station Info

https://github.com/dnavarrojr/CSV-Data-Sets

The city isn't accurate, but the rest of the data comes directly from the API.
« Last Edit: February 20, 2019, 12:13:59 AM by dnavarrojr »
Dave Navarro, Jr. - The Weather Center
https://weathercenter.us