# Weather API ## What It Does The Weather API provides current conditions, hourly forecasts (up to 5 days), and daily forecasts (up to 15 days) for any location. Returns temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed/direction, cloud cover, visibility, and UV index. Unlike general weather services, this API is designed for location-specific applications where weather affects user experience or safety. ## Music Use Case: Field Recording Conditions Weather dramatically affects outdoor sound recording quality and character: **Pre-recording planning:** - Check wind speed before recording (>10 mph = wind noise issues) - Avoid rain/precipitation (water on microphone = distortion) - Monitor temperature for equipment limits (condensation, battery life) - Plan for golden hour lighting + calm winds for video-audio projects **Sonic environment correlation:** - Temperature affects sound propagation (cold air = sharper high frequencies) - Humidity dampens high frequencies (foggy days sound muffled) - Wind direction determines which sounds reach your mic (highway noise, etc.) - Precipitation creates rain/snow ambience (document weather in metadata) **Example:** Tijuana Jazz Club Outdoor Patio Recording ```json { "date": "2025-11-15", "time": "20:00", "location": "Av. Revolución 1006", "weather": { "temperature": 18°C, "wind_speed": 5 mph, "humidity": 72%, "conditions": "Clear", "recording_quality": "Excellent - calm winds, dry conditions" } } ``` **Soundwalk route planning:** - Avoid routes exposed to high winds - Plan indoor/outdoor alternation based on forecast - Schedule walks during optimal weather windows ## Environmental Research Use Case: Water Infrastructure Operations Weather drives water and sewer system behavior: **Rainfall and sewer overflow:** - Track precipitation to predict combined sewer overflows (CSOs) - Correlate heavy rain with water quality degradation - Plan inspections after storm events (identify infrastructure weaknesses) **Example:** Tijuana River Watershed Monitoring ``` Storm event: 2025-11-12 Rainfall: 1.2 inches in 3 hours Impact: WWTP La Morita exceeded capacity at 14:30 CSO discharge: Tijuana River at border crossing Water quality sampling: Next 48 hours critical ``` **Temperature and water quality:** - High temps increase bacterial growth in stagnant water - Cold temps reduce biological treatment effectiveness at WWTPs - Track temperature trends for seasonal operational adjustments **Wind and aerial inspection:** - Drone surveys require <15 mph winds for stable footage - Helicopter inspections need clear visibility (>5 miles) - Plan aerial mapping during calm weather windows **UV index and outdoor work:** - Schedule long inspection days during lower UV periods - Provide crew safety guidance for high UV days ## How to Use It ### Direct API Call (No MCP Tool Available) **Endpoint:** `https://weather.googleapis.com/v1/weather:lookup` **Current conditions:** ```bash curl "https://weather.googleapis.com/v1/weather:lookup?key=YOUR_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "location": { "latitude": 32.5332, "longitude": -117.0192 } }' ``` **Hourly forecast:** ```json { "location": {"latitude": 32.5332, "longitude": -117.0192}, "forecast": { "hourly": true, "hours": 48 } } ``` **Daily forecast:** ```json { "location": {"latitude": 32.5332, "longitude": -117.0192}, "forecast": { "daily": true, "days": 7 } } ``` ## Response Structure **Current conditions:** ```json { "temperature": {"value": 18, "unit": "C"}, "humidity": 72, "windSpeed": {"value": 8, "unit": "km/h"}, "windDirection": 270, "precipitation": {"value": 0, "unit": "mm"}, "cloudCover": 25, "uvIndex": 3, "visibility": {"value": 16, "unit": "km"}, "weatherCode": "partly_cloudy" } ``` **Weather codes:** `clear`, `partly_cloudy`, `cloudy`, `rain`, `heavy_rain`, `snow`, `fog`, `thunderstorm` ## How It Works **Data sources:** 1. NOAA weather stations (US) 2. National meteorological services (international) 3. Weather radar networks 4. Satellite imagery 5. Numerical weather prediction models **Update frequency:** Current conditions update every 15-30 minutes. Forecasts update every 6 hours. **Accuracy:** - Current conditions: Very accurate (direct measurements) - Next 24 hours: ~90% accurate - 3-5 days: ~75% accurate - 7+ days: ~60% accurate (general trends only) ## When to Use It **Music/Audio projects:** - Planning outdoor recording sessions - Documenting sonic environment conditions - Scheduling soundwalks and audio tours - Video + audio production weather coordination **Environmental research:** - Predicting sewer overflow events - Planning water quality sampling after storms - Scheduling drone/aerial infrastructure inspections - Crew safety planning (UV, temperature extremes) **Don't use it for:** - Long-range planning (>7 days = use daily forecast trends only) - Hyperlocal microclimates (API gives general area conditions) - Storm warnings (use official weather alerts instead) ## Pro Tips **Wind is the enemy of outdoor recording:** Anything over 10 mph requires windscreens. Over 20 mph, consider rescheduling. **Rain changes everything:** Water infrastructure systems behave completely differently during and after storms. Plan sampling routes to capture these events. **Golden hour + calm winds = magic:** The hour after sunrise and before sunset often has the calmest winds and best lighting for audio-video projects. **Check forecast the night before:** Morning conditions often differ from afternoon. Plan recording/inspection times based on hourly forecast. **Temperature inversions trap pollution:** Cold mornings with little wind can cause high pollution near water treatment plants. Cross-reference with Air Quality API. ## Real-World Integration Example **Tijuana soundwalk planning:** ```javascript // Pseudo-code workflow locations = ["Tijuana Jazz Club", "Foro Nebraska", "Black Box"] for each location: weather = getWeather(location.coords) air_quality = getAirQuality(location.coords) if weather.windSpeed < 10 AND weather.precipitation == 0 AND air_quality.uaqi < 100: mark_location_as("optimal_for_recording") else: suggest_indoor_alternative(location) ``` ## Related APIs - [[Air Quality API]] - Pollution affects both hearing and breathing - [[Pollen API]] - Combined respiratory health view - [[Solar API]] - Solar radiation correlates with temperature - [[Directions API]] - Weather-aware route planning ## Resources - [Weather API Documentation](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/weather) - Weather codes and their meanings - Best practices for weather-aware application design