AirNow MCP Server

Overview

The unofficial AirNow MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) implementation that enables integration between large language models (LLMs) and the AirNow API for U.S. air quality data. This server provides a comprehensive set of tools that allows LLMs to access and utilize real-time, forecasted, and historical air quality information.

Key Features

Direct access to AirNow API resources through standardized MCP tools
Natural language interface for querying air quality data
Support for current, forecasted, and historical AQI, observations, and contour maps
Easy integration via NPX/Docker

About the AirNow API

The AirNow API provides access to official U.S. air quality data, including:

Current and Forecasted Air Quality Index (AQI):
Retrieve real-time and forecasted AQI values for ozone, PM2.5, and PM10 for specific locations or regions.
Observations and Reporting Areas:
Access air quality observations by ZIP code, latitude/longitude, bounding box, or reporting area.
Air Quality Maps:
Obtain contour maps for ozone and PM2.5, available as images or data overlays.
Historical Data:
Query historical air quality data for supported pollutants.
Health Recommendations:
The API provides health recommendations and cautionary statements based on AQI levels.

For detailed information on endpoints, parameters, and response formats, log in with your AirNow API account and go to the AirNow API Web Services Documentation.

Available Tools

Forecasts

forecast_by_lat_long – Get current or historical forecasted AQI values and categories for a reporting area by latitude and longitude.
forecast_by_zip_code – Get current or historical forecasted AQI values and categories for a reporting area by Zip code.

Contour Maps

contour_maps_by_geographic_bounding_box_ozone – Get current or historical ozone contour maps in KML.
contour_maps_by_geographic_bounding_box_pm25 – Get current or historical PM2.5 contour maps in KML.
contour_maps_by_bounding_box_combined_ozone_pm25 – Get current or historical contour maps in KML for combined ozone and PM2.5 values.

Observations

current_observations_by_reporting_area_by_lat_long – Get current AQI values and categories for a reporting area by latitude and longitude.
current_observations_by_reporting_area_by_zip_code – Get current AQI values and categories for a reporting area by Zip code.
observations_by_monitoring_site_by_geographic_bounding_box – Get AQI values or data concentrations for a specified date and time range and set of parameters within a geographic area of interest.

Historical Data

historical_observations_by_reporting_area_by_lat_long – Get historical AQI values and categories for a reporting area by latitude and longitude.
historical_observations_by_reporting_area_by_zip_code – Get historical AQI values and categories for a reporting area by Zip code.

Requirements

An AirNow API key, which you can obtain by requesting an AirNow API Account.
For use with NPX, Node.js >= v22.14.0 is required.

Configuration

Claude Desktop

Add one of these configurations to your claude_desktop_config.json:

NPX

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "airnow-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@prsantos-com/airnow-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env":{
        "AIRNOW_API_KEY": "<YOUR-AIRNOW-API-KEY>",
        "LOG_LEVEL": "<ANY-LOG-LEVEL>" // Optional. Not setting will default to "info"
      }
    }
  }
}

Docker

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "airnow-mcp-server": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "AIRNOW_API_KEY",
        "-e",
        "LOG_LEVEL",
        "prsantos/airnow-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env":{
        "AIRNOW_API_KEY": "<YOUR-AIRNOW-API-KEY>",
        "LOG_LEVEL": "<ANY-LOG-LEVEL>" // Optional. Not setting will default to "info"
      }
    }
  }
}

Install Server

HTTP connection URL

security – no known vulnerabilities

license - permissive license

quality - confirmed to work

How are these scores calculated?

Tools

A Model Context Protocol implementation that enables LLMs to access real-time, forecasted, and historical U.S. air quality data through the AirNow API.

Related Resources

Reddit Discussion about this server

Related MCP Servers

AQICN MCP Server
mattmarcin
-
security
A
license
-
quality
Enables interaction with the World Air Quality Index to fetch real-time air quality data for cities and coordinates worldwide via Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Last updated -
Python
MIT License
WeatherAPI MCP Server
swonixs
-
security
F
license
-
quality
Provides current weather and air quality data for any city using WeatherAPI, easily integrating with MCP clients like n8n and Claude Desktop App.
Last updated -
214
JavaScript
MCP Weather Server
adarshem
A
security
F
license
A
quality
A Model Context Protocol server that provides tools to fetch weather alerts for US states and forecasts based on latitude/longitude coordinates using the US National Weather Service API.
Last updated -
2
80
TypeScript
MCP-Weather Server
aaasoulmate
-
security
F
license
-
quality
An intermediate agent server that enhances LLMs with weather data capabilities using the Model Context Protocol (MCP) framework, enabling retrieval of real-time weather information.
Last updated -
Python

View all related MCP servers

AirNow MCP Server