When choosing a weather API for surfing applications, there are a few things to consider.
Ocean forecasting is very complex and just like any other weather forecasts, none of the forecasting institutes are 100% accurate all the time and weather sources perform differently in different parts of the world.
Multiple weather sources
Many surfers are constantly checking multiple weather sources to get the best view possible of the ocean state. Sometimes a specific weather data source can pick up a swell trend that went under the radar for others. Ultimately, comparing several sources gives you a better combined picture of what’s really going on.
In the stormglass.io API you can query data from multiple weather sources.
Bathymetry
When waves travel towards a beach from the deep ocean into the shallows, masses of water are pushed up producing waves that break. A sea floor that is only gently sloping creates slowly breaking waves with less punch. A sea floor with contours, a mix of different depths at different places, often creates long peeling waves and point breaks as opposed to a flat bottom that generates wide beach break closeouts (a wave that breaks along its entire length at the same time making it unsurfable).
In the stormglass.io API we have global bathymetry data which opens up for surfer specific applications. For example – use ocean floor level data to fine tune calculations on surf height. Use it to find new potential surf spots.
Parameters & Sources
Stormglass.io has all the data necessary to create an outstanding surf app:
Wind
Waves
Multiple Swell
Water Temperature
Bathymetry
Here are the weather sources that you can query in the stormglass API:
Stormglass
An intelligent global grid that automatically chooses the best and most local forecasters in each geographical area. Use the source “sg” in your API queries.
NOAA
Global marine forecasts provided by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an American scientific agency that focuses on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. Use the source “noaa” in your API queries.
DWD
Germany’s National Meteorological Service, the Deutscher Wetterdienst. Use the source “dwd” and “icon” in your API queries.
UK MetOffice
United Kingdom’s national weather service, The UK MetOffice. Use the source “meto” in your API queries.
Meteo France
French National Meteorological service. Use the source “meteo” in your API queries.
FMI
The Finnish Meterological Institution is focused on the Nordics providing accurate forecasts based on their buoys in the Baltic Sea. Use the source “fmi” in your API queries.
YR
YR’s weather data comes from Meteorologisk institutt in Norway. Use the source “yr” in your API queries.
FCOO
Danish Defence Centre for Operational Oceanography provides forecasts for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Use the source “fcoo” in your API queries.
SMHI
The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, is an expert agency under the Ministry of the Environment and Energy. Use the source “smhi” in your API queries.
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