Precipitation (accumulated) | Mean Accumulated Precipitation over the Last 10 Years | Precipitation Type | Precipitation Type Intensity | Precipitation Probability | Convective Precipitation | Large-scale Precipitation | Radar Reflectivity | Cloud Liquid Water | Hail | Freezing Rain | Supercooled Liquid Water | Rainfall | Snowfall | Sleet

Precipitation API Parameters

Precipitation (accumulated)

Gives the amount of precipitation that has fallen during the indicated interval. Here, precipitation is the sum of liquid (rain, freezing rain), mix (sleet), and solid (hail, graupel, snow) precipitation. The total amount of precipitation is the sum of convective and large-scale precipitation.

precip_<interval>:<unit>

Available units: mm, in

Available accumulation intervals: 5min, 10min, 15min, 30min, 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h

Note: Precipitation interval parameters are right-aligned see Appendix

Examples

• Show a three-day forecast of the expected precipitation accumulation with five minute resolution.

  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT5M/precip_5min:mm/47.412164,9.340652/html

  

Mean Accumulated Precipitation over the Last 10 Years

Gives the mean amount of precipitation over the last 10 years on a certain date at a specific location.

precip_<interval>_10y_mean:<unit>

Available units: mm, in

Available intervals: 1h, 2h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h

Examples:

• Compare the mean amount of precipitation of the last ten years with the amount of precipitation of 2022 with a resolution of 6 hour.
  
  Current situation:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T12:00:00ZP100D:P2D/precip_6h_10y_mean:mm,precip_6h:mm/50,10/html
• The amount of precipitation in winter compared to the 10 years mean:
  

  validdate;precip_6h_10y_mean:mm;precip_6h:mm
  2021-10-01T12:00:00Z;0.02;0.00
  2021-11-01T12:00:00Z;0.79;4.39
  2021-12-01T12:00:00Z;0.05;0.14
  2022-01-01T12:00:00Z;0.17;0.00
  2022-02-01T12:00:00Z;0.10;0.36

  
  Current situation:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T12:00:00ZP4M:P1M/precip_6h_10y_mean:mm,precip_6h:mm/50,10/csv

Precipitation Type

This parameter returns an integer indicating the type of precipitation over a specified time period:

precip_type_<interval>:idx

Available accumulation intervals: 5min, 10min, 15min, 20min, 30min, 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h

The values correspond to the type as given in the following table:

Index	Precipitation Type
0	None
1	Rain
2	Rain and snow mixed
3	Snow
4	Sleet (US definition)
5	Freezing rain
6	Hail

Examples

• A three-day forecast of the expected precipitation type on Mount Säntis:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT5M/precip_type_5min:idx/47.2494,9.34363/html
• Freezing rain (corresponding to red) over parts of the United States during a Nor'Easter storm on February 16th, 2021:

For visualization purposes you may query an image for the parameter

Precipitation Type Intensity

This parameter returns the type of precipitation (value before the decimal point) over a specified time period combined with the information about the intensity of the precipitation in mm (first value after the decimal point). For rain up to freezing rain the intensity is limited to 9 mm. A value of 6.0 and above indicates hail, where the first decimal displays the hail size in mm.

precip_type_intensity_5min:idx

For the interpretation of the parameter values please refer to the following legend. Note that the scale for the intensity is logarithmic.

Note: Please note that values above 6 indicate hail and the maximal size of hail is given such that: precip_type_intensity = 6 + max hail size in cm.

Examples

• A three-days precipitation type intensity with hail in cm and precipitation in mm with 5 minutes resolution.

  https://api.meteomatics.com/2021-07-24T06:45:00Z--2021-07-27T06:45:00Z:PT5M/hail_5min:cm,precip_5min:mm,precip_type_intensity_5min:idx/47.17647,8.90299/html

  

• Areas of rain and snow across Europe in February, 2022:

  

Precipitation Probability

prob_precip_<interval>:p

Available intervals: 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h

Note: Please note that since this parameter is based on multiple models, it does not fulfill all mathematical requirements of a probability.

Note: Precipitation interval parameters are right-aligned see Appendix

Examples

• Make a three-days precipitation probability forecast with one hour resolution.

  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT1H/prob_precip_1h:p/47.412164,9.340652/html

  

• https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z/precip_12h:mm/47.412164,9.340652/json

  {"version":"3.0","user":"api-test“,“dateGenerated":"2018-02-21T14:46:57Z","status":"OK","data": [{"parameter":"precip_12h:mm","coordinates":[{"lat":47.4122,"lon":9.34065,"dates": [{"date":"2018-02-01T00:00:00Z","value":0.92}]}]}]}

Convective Precipitation

Gives the total amount of liquid and frozen water by the convection scheme accumulated over a particular time period.

precip_convective_<interval>:<unit>

Available units: mm, in

Available intervals: 5min, 10min, 15min, 30min, 1h, 2h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h

Note: Convective precipitation interval parameters are right-aligned see Appendix

Note: Convective precipitation is only available for individual models.

Examples:

• Show a three-day forecast of the expected convective precipitation with five minute resolution.

  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT5M/precip_convective_5min:mm/47.412164,9.340652/html?source=ecmwf-ifs

  

Large-scale Precipitation

Gives the total amount of liquid and frozen water produced by cloud microphysical processes accumulated over a particular time period.

precip_large_scale_<interval>:<unit>

Available units: mm, in

Available intervals: 5min, 10min, 15min, 30min, 1h, 2h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h

Note: Large-scale precipitation interval parameters are right-aligned see Appendix

Note: Large-scale precipitation is only available for individual models.

Examples:

• Show a three-day forecast of the expected large-scale precipitation with five minute resolution.

  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT5M/precip_large_scale_5min:mm/47.412164,9.340652/html?source=ecmwf-ifs

  

Radar Reflectivity

This parameter indicates the amount of energy reflected back to the radar by precipitation particles, such as raindrops, snowflakes or hail.

radar_reflectivity:dBZ

Available units: dBZ

The reflectivity value corresponds generally to the intensity of the precipitation as shown in the table below:

dBZ	Intensity of precipitation
65-	Extremely heavy precipitation, possibly including water-coated hail
50-65	Heavy precipitation or some hail
40–50	Moderate precipitation
20-40	Light precipitation
0–20	Very light precipiation

Note: The spatial coverage of radar reflectivity data is generally smaller than that of other precipitation parameters.

Examples

• Radar Reflectivity across areas of Scandinavia in November, 2025:

  

Cloud Liquid Water

The mass of liquid water in a cloud in a specified amount of dry air. It plays an important role in the transport of energy (latent heat) in the earth-atmosphere system.

cloud_liquid_water:kgm2

Note: Cloud Liquid Water is available for individual models.

Examples

• The cloud liquid water in St. Gallen over a period of 3 days: https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT30M/cloud_liquid_water:kgm2/47.4245,9.3767/html
• A part of the corresponding csv file: https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT30M/cloud_liquid_water:kgm2/47.4245,9.3767/csv?model=ecmwf-ifs

  validdate;cloud_liquid_water:kgm2
  2024-06-08T09:00:00Z;0.0
  2024-06-08T10:00:00Z;0.0
  2024-06-08T11:00:00Z;0.1
  2024-06-08T12:00:00Z;0.0
  2024-06-08T13:00:00Z;0.1
  2024-06-08T14:00:00Z;0.0
  2024-06-08T15:00:00Z;0.3
  2024-06-08T16:00:00Z;0.1
  2024-06-08T17:00:00Z;0.2
  2024-06-08T18:00:00Z;0.2
  2024-06-08T19:00:00Z;0.1
  2024-06-08T20:00:00Z;0.0
  2024-06-08T21:00:00Z;0.0
  2024-06-08T22:00:00Z;0.0
  2024-06-08T23:00:00Z;0.0

Hail

The API features a hail parameter describing the maximum size of the hailstones.

Occurring hail for a time interval:

hail_<interval>:<unit>

Available units: cm, in

Available intervals: 10min, 20min, 30min, 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h

Examples

• Time series of hail and precipitation during series of thunderstorms in late June, 2021: Current:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-23T00:00:00Z--2025-11-24T00:00:00Z:PT15M/hail_10min:cm,precip_10min:mm/48.38988,9.01763/html
• Spatial view of the same series of thunderstorms: Current:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z/hail_1h:cm/48.84106,6.67225_46.21383,9.96186:0.005,0.005/html_map
• The API also provides well known text formats as e.g. XML. These facilitate the simple integration of hail warnings into your web application, warning system or smart city setup:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-23T00:00:00Z--2025-11-24T00:00:00Z:PT5M/hail:cm/47.4065777,9.1768305/xml

  Response:

  <meteomatics-api-response version="3.0">
  <user>meteomatics-admin</user>
  <dateGenerated>2018-06-06T19:02:48Z</dateGenerated>
  <status>OK</status>
  <data>
  <parameter name="hail:cm">
  <location lat="47.4066" lon="9.17683">
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:00:00Z">0.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:05:00Z">0.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:10:00Z">1.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:15:00Z">5.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:20:00Z">5.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:25:00Z">5.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:30:00Z">0.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:35:00Z">0.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:40:00Z">0.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:45:00Z">0.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:50:00Z">0.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T16:55:00Z">0.00000</value>
  <value date="2018-05-31T17:00:00Z">0.00000</value>
  </location>
  </parameter>
  </data>
  </meteomatics-api-response>

Freezing Rain

Freezing rain occurs when raindrops freeze on contact with the surface. This leads to a coating of ice on everything that the raindrops contact. Thus, freezing rain can be dangerous e.g. for motorists as the ice can create slick spots on roadways. Furthermore, the ice formed by freezing rain can cause tree branches and power lines to break leading to damage and/or power outages.

freezing_rain_1h:idx

The parameter goes from 0 (no freezing rain) to 1 (freezing rain).


Example

• A timeseries of freezing rain from 2022/12/08 to 2022/12/10:
  
  Current situation:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-26T00:00:00Z:PT15M/freezing_rain_1h:idx/47.4245,9.3767/html?model=mix

Supercooled Liquid Water

Supercooled liquid water refers to water droplets that remain liquid below their normal freezing point. While this parameter describes the vertically integrated supercooled liquid water content, our API also offers bottom/top altitudes (in meters) where supercooled liquid water is present. If no supercooled liquid water is present, bottom/top altitudes are not defined.

super_cooled_liquid_water:kgm2

super_cooled_liquid_water_layer_bottom:<unit> 
super_cooled_liquid_water_layer_top:<unit>

Available units: m, ft




Examples

• The supercooled liquid water content from 2021/11/23 to 2021/11/26:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2021-11-23T00:00:00Z--2021-11-26T00:00:00Z:PT1H/super_cooled_liquid_water:kgm2/47.4245,9.3767/html?model=mix

  
  

• The corresponding supercooled liquid water bottom/top altitudes from 2021/11/23 to 2021/11/26:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2021-11-23T00:00:00Z--2021-11-26T00:00:00Z:PT1H/super_cooled_liquid_water_layer_bottom:m,super_cooled_liquid_water_layer_top:m/47.4245,9.3767/html?model=mix

  

Rainfall

Check if there was any rain within the last 30 minutes or last hour. 0: no rain, 1: rain event

is_rain_<interval>:idx

Available intervals: 30min, 1h

Examples

• Show if there is rain in the next two days along with the temperature and expected amount of precipitation within 30 minutes: https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT30M/is_rain_30min:idx,t_2m:C,precip_30min:mm/47.412164,9.340652/html
• A part of the corresponding csv file: https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT30M/is_rain_30min:idx,t_2m:C,precip_30min:mm/47.412164,9.340652/csv

  validdate;is_rain_30min:idx;t_2m:C;precip_30min:mm
   2017-03-08T12:00:00Z;0;8.3;0.02
   2017-03-08T12:30:00Z;1;8.3;0.04
   2017-03-08T13:00:00Z;0;8.3;0.02
   2017-03-08T13:30:00Z;1;8.2;0.21
   2017-03-08T14:00:00Z;1;8.2;0.23
   2017-03-08T14:30:00Z;1;6.7;0.42
   2017-03-08T15:00:00Z;1;5.3;0.64
   2017-03-08T15:30:00Z;1;4.8;0.6
   2017-03-08T16:00:00Z;1;4.3;0.88
   2017-03-08T16:30:00Z;1;4.9;0.56

Snowfall

Check if there was any snowfall within the last hour or last 30 minutes. 0: no snowfall, 1: snowfall event

is_snow_<interval>:idx




Available intervals: 30min, 1h

Example

• Show if there is any snow expected in the next four days. The temperature and precipitation are also shown for this period as the snow event depends on them: https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT1H/is_snow_1h:idx,t_2m:C,precip_1h:mm/47.412164,9.340652/html

Sleet

Check if there was any sleet within the last hour or last 30 minutes. 0: no sleet, 1: sleet event

is_sleet_<interval>:idx




Available intervals: 30min, 1h

Example

• Show if there is any sleet expected during the next four days. The expected temperature and precipitation are also shown on the same plot as these parameters depend on each other: https://api.meteomatics.com/2025-11-24T00:00:00Z--2025-11-27T00:00:00Z:PT1H/is_sleet_1h:idx,t_2m:C,precip_1h:mm/47.412164,9.340652/html