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Nws Get Observations

nws_get_observations
Read-only

Get current weather observations (actual measured conditions). Accepts coordinates (resolves nearest station automatically) or a station ID directly (e.g., "KSEA").

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
latitudeNoLatitude for automatic station resolution. Use with longitude. Ignored if station_id is provided.
longitudeNoLongitude for automatic station resolution. Use with latitude. Ignored if station_id is provided.
station_idNoStation identifier directly (e.g., "KSEA", "KORD"). Use nws_find_stations to discover station IDs.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
errorNoPresent when the call failed. Absent on success.
noticeNoGuidance when the latest observation is more than 2 hours old — data may not reflect current conditions.
stationNoStation ID that served the observation (e.g., "KSEA")
timeZoneNoStation time zone when known
dewpointCNoDewpoint in Celsius
stationIdNoObservation station ID
timestampNoObservation time (ISO 8601)
heatIndexCNoHeat index in Celsius
observedAtNoObservation timestamp (ISO 8601)
windChillCNoWind chill in Celsius
cloudLayersNoCloud layer information
stationNameNoStation name
visibilityMNoVisibility in meters
windGustKmhNoWind gust in km/h
temperatureCNoTemperature in Celsius
windSpeedKmhNoWind speed in km/h
textDescriptionNoConditions summary (e.g., "Mostly Cloudy")
windDirectionDegNoWind direction in degrees (0-360)
relativeHumidityPctNoRelative humidity in percent (0-100)
barometricPressurePaNoBarometric pressure in Pascals

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed1 schema field changed
    • changedOutput schema / properties / error / properties / data / properties / reason / description
      Previous value: -"Machine-readable failure mode. Declared by this tool: `missing_input`: Neither station_id nor a (latitude, longitude) pair was provided `blank_station_id`: station_id was provided with a blank value `station_not_found`: Station ID does not exist in the NWS network `no_observations`: Station has no recent observations available `no_stations_nearby`: No observation stations exist near the requested coordinates `out_of_scope`: Coordinates fall outside US National Weather Service coverage Other values are possible when a failure originates below the handler."New value: +"Machine-readable failure mode. Declared by this tool: `missing_input`: Neither station_id nor a (latitude, longitude) pair was provided. `blank_station_id`: station_id was provided with a blank value. `station_not_found`: Station ID does not exist in the NWS network. `no_observations`: Station has no recent observations available. `no_stations_nearby`: No observation stations exist near the requested coordinates. `out_of_scope`: Coordinates fall outside US National Weather Service coverage. Other values are possible when a failure originates below the handler."
  2. Changed24 schema fields changed
    • removedOutput schema / properties / barometricPressurePa / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / barometricPressurePa / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / cloudLayers / items / properties / baseM / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / cloudLayers / items / properties / baseM / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / dewpointC / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / dewpointC / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / heatIndexC / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / heatIndexC / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / relativeHumidityPct / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / relativeHumidityPct / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / temperatureC / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / temperatureC / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / timeZone / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / timeZone / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / visibilityM / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / visibilityM / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / windChillC / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / windChillC / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / windDirectionDeg / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / windDirectionDeg / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / windGustKmh / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / windGustKmh / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / windSpeedKmh / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "number"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / windSpeedKmh / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "number",
      +  "null"
      +]
  3. Changed6 schema fields changed
    • changedInput schema / $schema
      Previous value: -"http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"New value: +"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema"
    • addedInput schema / additionalProperties
      Added value: +false
    • changedOutput schema / $schema
      Previous value: -"http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"New value: +"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema"
    • addedOutput schema / anyOf
      Added value: +[
      +  {
      +    "not": {
      +      "required": [
      +        "error"
      +      ]
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "stationId",
      +      "stationName",
      +      "timestamp",
      +      "timeZone",
      +      "textDescription",
      +      "temperatureC",
      +      "dewpointC",
      +      "windSpeedKmh",
      +      "windDirectionDeg",
      +      "windGustKmh",
      +      "barometricPressurePa",
      +      "visibilityM",
      +      "relativeHumidityPct",
      +      "heatIndexC",
      +      "windChillC",
      +      "cloudLayers",
      +      "station",
      +      "observedAt"
      +    ]
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "required": [
      +      "error"
      +    ]
      +  }
      +]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / error
      Added value: +{
      +  "additionalProperties": {},
      +  "description": "Present when the call failed. Absent on success.",
      +  "properties": {
      +    "code": {
      +      "description": "JSON-RPC error code for this failure.",
      +      "maximum": 9007199254740991,
      +      "minimum": -9007199254740991,
      +      "type": "integer"
      +    },
      +    "data": {
      +      "additionalProperties": {},
      +      "properties": {
      +        "reason": {
      +          "description": "Machine-readable failure mode. Declared by this tool: `missing_input`: Neither station_id nor a (latitude, longitude) pair was provided `blank_station_id`: station_id was provided with a blank value `station_not_found`: Station ID does not exist in the NWS network `no_observations`: Station has no recent observations available `no_stations_nearby`: No observation stations exist near the requested coordinates `out_of_scope`: Coordinates fall outside US National Weather Service coverage Other values are possible when a failure originates below the handler.",
      +          "examples": [
      +            "missing_input",
      +            "blank_station_id",
      +            "station_not_found",
      +            "no_observations",
      +            "no_stations_nearby",
      +            "out_of_scope"
      +          ],
      +          "type": "string"
      +        },
      +        "recovery": {
      +          "additionalProperties": {},
      +          "description": "Actionable next step for the caller.",
      +          "properties": {
      +            "hint": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            }
      +          },
      +          "required": [
      +            "hint"
      +          ],
      +          "type": "object"
      +        },
      +        "retryable": {
      +          "description": "Whether retrying may succeed.",
      +          "type": "boolean"
      +        }
      +      },
      +      "type": "object"
      +    },
      +    "message": {
      +      "description": "Human-readable description of what went wrong.",
      +      "type": "string"
      +    }
      +  },
      +  "required": [
      +    "code",
      +    "message"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "object"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / required
      Removed value: -[
      -  "stationId",
      -  "stationName",
      -  "timestamp",
      -  "timeZone",
      -  "textDescription",
      -  "temperatureC",
      -  "dewpointC",
      -  "windSpeedKmh",
      -  "windDirectionDeg",
      -  "windGustKmh",
      -  "barometricPressurePa",
      -  "visibilityM",
      -  "relativeHumidityPct",
      -  "heatIndexC",
      -  "windChillC",
      -  "cloudLayers",
      -  "station",
      -  "observedAt"
      -]
  4. Changed4 schema fields changed
    • addedOutput schema / properties / notice
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Guidance when the latest observation is more than 2 hours old — data may not reflect current conditions.",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / observedAt
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Observation timestamp (ISO 8601)",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / station
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Station ID that served the observation (e.g., \"KSEA\")",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • changedOutput schema / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "stationId",
      -  "stationName",
      -  "timestamp",
      -  "timeZone",
      -  "textDescription",
      -  "temperatureC",
      -  "dewpointC",
      -  "windSpeedKmh",
      -  "windDirectionDeg",
      -  "windGustKmh",
      -  "barometricPressurePa",
      -  "visibilityM",
      -  "relativeHumidityPct",
      -  "heatIndexC",
      -  "windChillC",
      -  "cloudLayers"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "stationId",
      +  "stationName",
      +  "timestamp",
      +  "timeZone",
      +  "textDescription",
      +  "temperatureC",
      +  "dewpointC",
      +  "windSpeedKmh",
      +  "windDirectionDeg",
      +  "windGustKmh",
      +  "barometricPressurePa",
      +  "visibilityM",
      +  "relativeHumidityPct",
      +  "heatIndexC",
      +  "windChillC",
      +  "cloudLayers",
      +  "station",
      +  "observedAt"
      +]
  5. Changed24 schema fields changed
    • removedOutput schema / properties / barometricPressure
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Barometric pressure in Pascals"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / barometricPressurePa
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Barometric pressure in Pascals"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / properties / cloudLayers / items / properties / base
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Cloud base height in meters"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / cloudLayers / items / properties / baseM
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Cloud base height in meters"
      +}
    • changedOutput schema / properties / cloudLayers / items / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "amount",
      -  "base"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "amount",
      +  "baseM"
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / dewpoint
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Dewpoint in Celsius"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / dewpointC
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Dewpoint in Celsius"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / properties / heatIndex
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Heat index in Celsius"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / heatIndexC
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Heat index in Celsius"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / properties / relativeHumidity
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Relative humidity (%)"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / relativeHumidityPct
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Relative humidity in percent (0-100)"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / properties / temperature
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Temperature in Celsius"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / temperatureC
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Temperature in Celsius"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / properties / visibility
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Visibility in meters"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / visibilityM
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Visibility in meters"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / properties / windChill
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Wind chill in Celsius"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / windChillC
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Wind chill in Celsius"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / properties / windDirection
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Wind direction in degrees"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / windDirectionDeg
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Wind direction in degrees (0-360)"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / properties / windGust
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Wind gust in km/h"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / windGustKmh
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Wind gust in km/h"
      +}
    • removedOutput schema / properties / windSpeed
      Removed value: -{
      -  "anyOf": [
      -    {
      -      "type": "number"
      -    },
      -    {
      -      "type": "null"
      -    }
      -  ],
      -  "description": "Wind speed in km/h"
      -}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / windSpeedKmh
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "number"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Wind speed in km/h"
      +}
    • changedOutput schema / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "stationId",
      -  "stationName",
      -  "timestamp",
      -  "timeZone",
      -  "textDescription",
      -  "temperature",
      -  "dewpoint",
      -  "windSpeed",
      -  "windDirection",
      -  "windGust",
      -  "barometricPressure",
      -  "visibility",
      -  "relativeHumidity",
      -  "heatIndex",
      -  "windChill",
      -  "cloudLayers"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "stationId",
      +  "stationName",
      +  "timestamp",
      +  "timeZone",
      +  "textDescription",
      +  "temperatureC",
      +  "dewpointC",
      +  "windSpeedKmh",
      +  "windDirectionDeg",
      +  "windGustKmh",
      +  "barometricPressurePa",
      +  "visibilityM",
      +  "relativeHumidityPct",
      +  "heatIndexC",
      +  "windChillC",
      +  "cloudLayers"
      +]
  6. Changed1 schema field changed
    • addedOutput schema / properties / cloudLayers / items / description
      Added value: +"Single cloud layer with cover amount and base height"
  7. Changed2 schema fields changed
    • addedOutput schema / properties / timeZone
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "Station time zone when known"
      +}
    • changedOutput schema / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "stationId",
      -  "stationName",
      -  "timestamp",
      -  "textDescription",
      -  "temperature",
      -  "dewpoint",
      -  "windSpeed",
      -  "windDirection",
      -  "windGust",
      -  "barometricPressure",
      -  "visibility",
      -  "relativeHumidity",
      -  "heatIndex",
      -  "windChill",
      -  "cloudLayers"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "stationId",
      +  "stationName",
      +  "timestamp",
      +  "timeZone",
      +  "textDescription",
      +  "temperature",
      +  "dewpoint",
      +  "windSpeed",
      +  "windDirection",
      +  "windGust",
      +  "barometricPressure",
      +  "visibility",
      +  "relativeHumidity",
      +  "heatIndex",
      +  "windChill",
      +  "cloudLayers"
      +]
  8. First observed

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations only flag readOnlyHint. The description adds meaningful behavior: coordinate resolution automatically picks the nearest station, and station_id bypasses that. It doesn't hide side effects, which are minimal for a read operation, and it does not contradict annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences, front-loads the core purpose and includes the necessary invocation options plus an example. No filler or redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

This is a simple optional-parameter read tool; the description explains both valid input modes and the automatic station-resolution behavior. The output schema and readOnlyHint cover return values and safety, so nothing essential is missing for correct invocation.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema already has 100% coverage, including 'automatic station resolution', 'Ignored if station_id is provided', and examples. The description adds no parameter meaning beyond what the schema provides, so baseline 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description uses a specific verb ('Get'), states the resource ('current weather observations'), and clarifies 'actual measured conditions' to distinguish from forecasts. It also enumerates accepted input forms (coordinates or station ID), making the tool's purpose unmistakable even among siblings like nws_get_forecast.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives clear context that this is for current observations and explains the two invocation modes, including that coordinates auto-resolve a station. It doesn't spell out exclusions versus forecast-related siblings, but the phrase 'actual measured conditions' implicitly routes the agent to observations rather than forecasts.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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