Weather Maps API

https://api.rainviewer.com/public/weather-maps.json

Purpose and Description

Contains the past (2 hours) and forecast (30 minutes) weather radar data and the past infrared satellite data (2 hours). Suitable to display in the applications, on the websites, or in any other mapping software. It can also be used as a source for the weather API.

Database File Example

Here is an example of the weather maps API file with two frames for each data section. The data inside the example is out of date and cannot be used in real queries. To get actual data, please open the API file directly.

{
  "version": "2.0",
  "generated": 1609402525,
  "host": "https://tilecache.rainviewer.com",
  "radar": {
    "past": [
      {
        "time": 1609401600,
        "path": "/v2/radar/1609401600"
      },
      {
        "time": 1609402200,
        "path": "/v2/radar/1609402200"
      }
    ],
    "nowcast": [
      {
        "time": 1609402800,
        "path": "/v2/radar/nowcast_6b3c5a659cf4"
      },
      {
        "time": 1609403400,
        "path": "/v2/radar/nowcast_dd3474d83b20"
      }
    ]
  },
  "satellite": {
    "infrared": [
      {
        "time": 1609401600,
        "path": "/v2/satellite/0680143a9470"
      },
      {
        "time": 1609402200,
        "path": "/v2/satellite/ba88bf38ac55"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Root Object

keyDescriptionValuesExample
versionAPI Version.String(8)“2.0.1”
generatedUnix timestamp date (UTC) when this API file was generated. Useful for checking for updates.Int(8)1609402525
hostHost and protocol for the images.String(255)https://tilecache.rainviewer.com
radarWeather radar maps.Radar object 
satelliteSatellite maps.Satellite object 

Radar Object

keyDescriptionValuesExample
pastPast weather radar frames. 2 hours, with 10-minute steps.Array(Frame Object) 
nowcastFuture weather radar frames. 30 minutes or 60 minutes for Gold+ and Platinum API Patrons.Array(Frame Object) 

Satellite Object

keyDescriptionValuesExample
infraredPast 2 hours of the infrared satellite data (channel 13) from the available satellites.Array(Frame Object) 

Frame Object

keyDescriptionValuesExample
timeMap frame generation data in UNIX timestamp format (UTC). The map frame typically contains the images (radar, satellite) from different times, so this is not the time of the data rather than frame generation time.Int(8)1609401600
pathBase path for the images of that frame. For information on its usage, refer to the next How to use host and path information section of this pageString(255)/v2/satellite/0680143a9470

Become our patron!

If you enjoy our API and want to keep it free for as long as possible, please support us at Patreon. You will also get access to the weather radar database API, 60 minutes of weather radar nowcast map, and a possibility to get tiles in your own custom color scheme.

Become a patron

How to use host and path information

Like the legacy API, you should use the host and path data from the API as a part of the URL. All available URLs and their parameters are described below.

Each url starts with {host}, where:

URLDescription
{path}/{size}/{z}/{x}/{y}/{color}/{options}.pngRadar data: displays one tile with the composite radar reflectivity data, with specified size, color scheme, and additional options.
{path}/{size}/{z}/{lat}/{lon}/{color}/{options}.pngRadar data: same as the link above, but with the center at specified coordinates (EPSG:4326) with desired zoom size. Great for widgets
{path}/{big_size}/{color}/{options}.pngComposite image with radar reflectivity for the entire world. Generates slowly, up to 10 seconds per image loads. Cannot be smoothed. IMPORTANT: color scheme and the snow mask for satellite data should always be “0”.

Weather Radar Coverage

Additionally, one more product is available: the weather radar coverage mask. This mask shows where is weather radar coverage available (transparent areas) and where is not (black areas). We don’t update this mask often. The links are the same as for radar and satellite products, but without options and color scheme.

URLDescription
/v2/coverage/0/{size}/{z}/{x}/{y}/0/0_0.pngCoverage tile: where radar data is available (transparent areas) and where is not (black areas).
/v2/coverage/0/{size}/{z}/{lat}/{lon}/0/0_0.pngCoverage data as above but for specified center coordinates (latitude, longitude).
/v2/coverage/0/{big_size}/0/0_0.pngComposite coverage tile for the entire world at once. Generates slowly.

Examples

Please refer to the separate examples page.

Rain Viewer logo Rain Viewer