5 API Features that are Underutilized

All around the world, people like to talk about the weather.  It is the thing we all have in common and makes for easy chatter. So if you are a developer who uses APIs for the weather, you probably get basic information like temperature, rain, or a 7-day forecast. 

The incredible thing is underneath this basic information are some very useful and powerful capabilities that you might not realize are there. These features can turn your basic information into a tool for disaster response, financial modeling, or even energy enhancements and at no extra cost.

These features can be helpful in insurance, agriculture, and for useful historical weather data. For instance, if you are applying for a loan and the bank determines your farm is in a flood-prone area and that you’re a ‘risky investment’. The way your loan will be created (or even straight-up denied) will be determined by such factors.

Below, you’ll find 5 weather API hidden gems and how to use them:

1. A Time Machine For Weather

As we’re all familiar with, a free-tier API will sometimes limit access to data, and if you’re looking for historical weather data, if you know where to look, you can gain access to 5 to 10 years of data. 

For instance:

• You want your ML model to predict server downtime during heat waves.
• You are interested in the impact climate risks have on lending (Federal Reserve) and loan defaults.

How to try it:

Python import requests  # Fetch historical data from OpenWeatherMap’s API  response = requests.get(      f”https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/onecall/timemachine?lat=35&lon=139&dt=1609459200&appid=YOUR_API_KEY”  )print(response.json()[“current”][“temp”])

Pro tip: For ultra-accurate data, cross-reference with NASA’s Weather Climate Toolkit.

2. Going Beyond the Forecast

Sometimes you want more information about the weather to help make decisions about events that may have other risks in wind gusts, air quality, pollen counts, or other potential health risks. If you are running a hot air balloon race, it is helpful to know what the wind is doing for the day, or if you are having a children’s event, is the smog bad? 

Air Quality Information (AQI) is included in most weather APIs, but did you know the AQI data can also:

• Provide information to wearable health trackers about how air quality might affect a light jog during your day.
• Send info to the real estate lenders that air quality in certain cities can depreciate value faster.
• Pollen Counts for Allergy Sufferers

Try this little example:

Javascript // Weatherbit AQI API call  fetch(“https://api.weatherbit.io/v2.0/current/airquality?city=Delhi&key=API_KEY”)    .then(response => response.json()) .then(data => console.log(data.data[0].aqi));

3. Extreme Weather Webhooks

So often, people can be caught off guard in severe weather that drops out of nowhere.  Webhook triggers set for hurricanes, floods, and fires could save lives! 

• Imagine being able to disconnect outdoor payment terminals during a storm and eliminate possible injury, or getting a notice of potential fire danger.
• If a flash flood is on the way, an automated warning can be sent to policyholders.

Node.js snippet for Twilio alerts:

Javascript const express = require(“express”);const bodyParser = require(“body-parser”);const twilio = require(“twilio”)(ACCOUNT_SID, AUTH_TOKEN); const app = express();app.use(bodyParser.json()); app.post(“/weather-alert”, (req, res) => {    const alert = req.body;    if (alert.event === “hurricane”) {      twilio.messages.create({        body: “Hurricane alert! Shut down affected servers.”,        to: “+1234567890”,        from: “+YOUR_TWILIO_NUMBER”    }).then(() => res.send(“Alert sent”))      .catch(err => res.status(500).send(err.message));    } else {    res.send(“No hurricane alert triggered.”);  }});

4. The Sun and The Moon Ebb and Flow

Solar radiation and moon phases sound a bit like science fiction terms, but there is valuable information for wedding planners or event planners. If your business relies on outdoor facilities or venues, it is incredibly helpful: 

• The position of the sun for the installation of solar panels helps with efficiency and the amount of energy you can take advantage of.
• Event planners: Phases of the moon can affect the visibility and quality of photos.

Climacell (Tomorrow.io) API example:

Python import requests url = “https://api.tomorrow.io/v4/timelines”headers = {    “Content-Type”: “application/json”,    “apikey”: “YOUR_API_KEY”}payload = {    “location”: “40.7128,-74.0060”,    “fields”: [“solarGHI”],    “timesteps”: [“1h”],    “units”: “metric”} response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload)data = response.json() # Print solar radiation valuesfor interval in data[‘data’][‘timelines’][0][‘intervals’]:    timestamp = interval[‘startTime’]    radiation = interval[‘values’][‘solarGHI’]    print(f”{timestamp}: Solar Radiation = {radiation} W/m²”)

Banking angle: Green energy loans often require solar yield estimates – APIs automate this.

5. Location, Location, Location

Local information is most helpful if you have a project and you need a window to complete it in. A free weather API with location support can help master the local information like precipitation, humidity, temperatures, wind, UV, and more. If your local farmer wants warnings sent in Hindi, the app can do that too.

Python # Weatherbit localized response  params = {    “city”: “Mumbai”,    “lang”: “hi”,  # Hindi    “key”: “API_KEY”  }requests.get(“https://api.weatherbit.io/v2.0/current”, params=params)

Conclusion

There is so much more to weather, and some of this information is providing umbrellas to protect you from what’s forecast that can help you plan for dangerous situations, be prepared in unforeseen circumstances, and might save lives or money. 

These hidden features can provide so much more for insurance companies, finance companies, and event planners. Things you didn’t even know could help you do your job more effectively and efficiently, as long as you know where to look for them.

---