Aviation Weather — Free Airport Weather Reports API (No Key)

TL;DR

The Aviation Weather Center API provides official METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) and TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) data for airports worldwide. Powered by NOAA/NWS, this API returns raw and decoded weather observations including wind, visibility, cloud layers, temperature/dewpoint, altimeter, and flight category (VFR/MVFR/IFR/LIFR). Query by airport ICAO code. No API key required. Essential for flight planning, drone operations, and aviation enthusiasts.

Quick start: https://aviationweather.gov/api/data/airport?ids=KMCI

No API key needed — just make a request!

How to Use This API

1. Get METAR for Kansas City International

https://aviationweather.gov/api/data/airport?ids=KMCI

2. Multiple Airports at Once

https://aviationweather.gov/api/data/airport?ids=KLAX,KJFK,KORD

3. JavaScript — Check Flight Conditions

fetch('https://aviationweather.gov/api/data/airport?ids=KLAX')
  .then(r => r.json())
  .then(data => {
    const airport = data[0];
    console.log(`Wind: ${airport.windDirection}° @ ${airport.windSpeed}kt`);
    console.log(`Visibility: ${airport.visibilityStatuteMiles} sm`);
    console.log(`Flight category: ${airport.flightCategory}`);
    console.log(`Temp: ${airport.tempC}°C / Dewpoint: ${airport.dewpointC}°C`);
  });

4. Python — Get TAF Forecast

import requests

data = requests.get(
    'https://aviationweather.gov/api/data/airport',
    params={'ids': 'EGLL'}
).json()

print(f"London Heathrow (EGLL):")
for airport in data:
    print(f"  Conditions: {airport['flightCategory']}")
    print(f"  Raw METAR: {airport['rawOb']}")
    if airport.get('taf'):
        print(f"  TAF: {airport['taf']}")

KMCI weather: https://aviationweather.gov/api/data/airport?ids=KMCI

Try This URL Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What data is returned for each airport?: Returns: rawOb (raw METAR text), tempC, dewpointC, windDirection, windSpeed, windGust, visibilityStatuteMiles, altimeter, seaLevelPressure, skyCover, skyLayer, flightCategory, and TAF text if available.
What ICAO codes should I use?: US airports use K-prefix codes (KLAX, KJFK, KORD). International airports use other prefixes: EGLL (London), LFPG (Paris), RJTT (Tokyo), VHHH (Hong Kong).
How often is METAR data updated?: METARs are typically issued hourly at major airports, with special reports (SPECI) when conditions change significantly between routine reports.
What flight categories are used?: Categories: VFR (visual flight rules, ceiling >3000ft, vis >5sm), MVFR (marginal), IFR (instrument), and LIFR (low instrument).
Does the API include TAF forecasts?: Yes, when available. TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) provides 24-30 hour runway-specific forecasts. Check the taf field in the response.
Is there a rate limit?: The Aviation Weather Center API is a US government service with no documented rate limits. Reasonable usage expected.

API Details

API URL: https://aviationweather.gov/api/data/airport
Documentation: www.aviationweather.gov/dataserver
Category: Weather
Authentication: Not Required
Geographic Coverage: Global — airports worldwide

What You Can Build

Drone flight safety checker that validates VFR conditions before takeoff
Pilot weather briefing tool showing multiple airport conditions at once
Flight planning dashboard with en-route weather and destination TAFs
Aviation enthusiast app tracking real-time METARs at favorite airports
Cross-country trip planner that checks conditions along your route