# Claude Desktop Configuration for Hurricane Tracker MCP
This guide provides instructions for configuring Hurricane Tracker MCP with Claude Desktop using two different transport methods:
1. **Stdio Transport** (Direct Node.js execution - Simple setup)
2. **Streamable HTTP Transport** (Docker container - Production ready)
## 📑 Table of Contents
- [Configuration File Location](#configuration-file-location)
- [Option 1: Stdio Transport (Simplest Setup)](#option-1-stdio-transport-simplest-setup--direct-node-approach)
- [Overview](#overview)
- [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
- [Configuration](#configuration-in-claude_desktop_configjson)
- [Option 2: Streamable HTTP Transport (Docker-based)](#option-2-streamable-http-transport-docker-based)
- [Overview](#overview-1)
- [Prerequisites](#prerequisites-1)
- [Configuration](#configuration-in-claude_desktop_configjson-1)
- [Docker Container Management](#docker-container-management)
- [Available Tools](#available-tools)
- [Switching Between Transports](#switching-between-transports)
- [To Use Stdio Transport](#to-use-stdio-transport)
- [To Use HTTP Transport](#to-use-http-transport)
- [Restart Claude Desktop](#restart-claude-desktop)
- [Verifying Connection](#verifying-connection)
- [Environment Configuration](#environment-configuration)
- [Key Environment Variables](#key-environment-variables)
- [Testing the Connection](#testing-the-connection)
- [Basic Queries](#basic-queries)
## Configuration File Location
- **macOS**: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
- **Windows**: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
- **Linux**: `~/.config/claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
---
## Option 1: Stdio Transport (Simplest Setup)- Direct node approach
### Overview
- Runs the MCP server directly via Node.js
- Slightly faster startup, explicit Node version
- No Docker required
- Direct stdio communication with Claude Desktop
- Best for development and testing
### Prerequisites
1. Node.js installed (v22+ recommended)
2. Clone the repo:
```bash
https://github.com/kumaran-is/hurricane-tracker-mcp.git
npm install
npm run build
```
### Configuration in claude_desktop_config.json
**IMPORTANT**: Use the full path to Node.js v22+ to avoid version conflicts.
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"hurricane-tracker-mcp": {
"command": "/path/to/your/.nvm/versions/node/v22.15.0/bin/node",
"args": [
"/path/to/your/mydrive/personal/hurricane-tracker-mcp/dist/server.js"
],
"env": {
"MCP_TRANSPORT": "stdio",
"NODE_ENV": "production",
"PRETTY_LOGS": "false",
"LOG_LEVEL": "info"
},
"timeout": 60000
}
}
}
```
**Note**: Replace the Node.js path with your actual Node v22+ installation path. You can find it with: `which node`
## Option 2: Streamable HTTP Transport (Docker-based)
### Overview
- Runs in Docker container
- HTTP-based communication on port 8080
- Better for production deployment
- Supports multiple clients simultaneously
### Prerequisites
1. Docker Desktop installed and running
2. Clone the repo:
```bash
https://github.com/kumaran-is/hurricane-tracker-mcp.git
npm install
npm run build
```
3. Build and start the container:
cd /YOURPATH/hurricane-tracker-mcp
```bash
docker-compose up --build -d
```
### Configuration in claude_desktop_config.json
Since Claude Desktop expects stdio, we use a bridge script to connect to the HTTP server:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"hurricane-tracker-mcp": {
"command": "node",
"args": [
"/path/to/your/mydrive/personal/hurricane-tracker-mcp/stdio-http-bridge.js"
]
}
}
}
```
### Docker Container Management
```bash
docker-compose up --build -d
```
# Check status
```bash
docker ps | grep hurricane-tracker-mcp
```
View logs
```bash
docker logs hurricane-tracker-mcp
```
Stop container
```bash
docker-compose down
```
## Available Tools
Once connected, Claude Desktop will have access to these 5 hurricane tracking tools:
1. **get_active_storms** - List currently active tropical cyclones worldwide
2. **get_storm_cone** - Get the cone of uncertainty for a specific storm
3. **get_storm_track** - Get historical track data for a specific storm
4. **get_local_hurricane_alerts** - Get hurricane alerts for a specific location
5. **search_historical_tracks** - Search historical hurricane data within an area
---
## Switching Between Transports
### To Use Stdio Transport
1. Update `claude_desktop_config.json` with stdio configuration
2. Ensure project is built: `npm run build`
3. Restart Claude Desktop
### To Use HTTP Transport
1. Start Docker container: `docker-compose up -d`
2. Update `claude_desktop_config.json` with bridge configuration
3. Restart Claude Desktop
---
## Restart Claude Desktop
After updating the configuration:
1. **Quit Claude Desktop completely** (Cmd+Q on macOS)
2. **Restart Claude Desktop**
3. The Hurricane Tracker MCP should connect automatically
## Verifying Connection
In Claude Desktop, you can verify the MCP is connected by:
1. Opening a new conversation
2. Looking for the MCP indicator showing connected servers
3. Asking Claude to "list active hurricanes" or "get current storms"
## Environment Configuration
### Key Environment Variables
The service uses environment variables from `.env` file:
| Variable | Default | Description |
|----------|---------|-------------|
| `MCP_TRANSPORT` | `http` | Transport type: `stdio` or `http` |
| `HTTP_PORT` | `8080` | HTTP server port |
| `HTTP_HOST` | `0.0.0.0` | Listen interface |
| `NODE_ENV` | `production` | Environment mode |
| `PRETTY_LOGS` | `false` | Pretty logging (false in production) |
| `LOG_LEVEL` | `info` | Logging level: debug, info, warn, error |
## Testing the Connection
Once Claude Desktop is restarted, test with these queries:
### Basic Queries
- "What hurricanes are currently active?"
- "Show me storms in the Atlantic basin"
- "Are there any storms near Florida?"
