Temperature related Parameters

Windchill | Interval Values of Windchill | Apparent Temperature | Interval Values of Apparent Temperature | Heat Index | Humidex | Wet-bulb Temperature | Potential Temperature | Interval Values of Potential Temperature | Equivalent Potential Temperature |Wet-bulb Potential Temperature | Wet-bulb Globe Temperature | Lake Temperatures

Windchill

Gives the wind chill in °C as defined by Wikipedia¹ .

windchill:C

Available units: C, F, K

Example:

• Show the windchill and the temperature at a height of 2 meters for the next five days:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP5D:PT1H/windchill:C,t_2m:C/47.412164,9.340652/html

  

Interval Values of Windchill

Gives the mean, maximum or minimum windchill over the indicated interval.

windchill_<measure>_<interval>:C

Available measure: min, mean, max
Available interval: 1h, 2h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h

Example:

• Show the mean windchill of the previous hour for the next five days:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP5D:PT1H/windchill_mean_1h:C/47.412164,9.340652/html

  

Apparent Temperature

The apparent temperature is a measure for the human thermal comfort. On the basis of the air temperature, the apparent temperature is computed considering effects of relative humidity, wind speed and solar radiation.

t_apparent:<unit>

Available units: C, F, K

Example:

• Show the apparent temperature and the air temperature at a height of 2 meters for the next five days:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP5D:PT1H/t_apparent:C,t_2m:C/47.412164,9.340652/html

  

Interval Values of Apparent Temperature

Gives the mean, maximum or minimum apparent temperature over the indicated interval.

t_apparent_<measure>_<interval>:<unit>

Available measure: min, mean, max
Available interval: 1h, 2h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h
Available units: C, F, K

Example:

• Show the mean apparent temperature and the mean air temperature at a height of 2 meters of the previous hour for the next five days:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP5D:PT1H/t_apparent_mean_1h:C,t_mean_2m_1h:C/47.412164,9.340652/html

  

Heat Index

The Heat Index is a parameter that describes how humidity affects the perception of warm temperatures in shaded areas. Since the human body cools itself by evaporating sweat from the skin, higher humidity attenuates the effect of this mechanism. The index is computed using air temperature and relative humidity, while for temperatures below 27°C the heat index equals air temperature. The Heat Index can be used to assess the danger of heat exhaustion and strokes when performing outdoor activities.

heat_index:<unit>

Available units: C, F, K

Heat Index	Description
26 - 32 °C	Caution: fatigue is possible, activity could result in heat cramps
32 - 41 °C	Extreme caution: heat cramps and heat exhaustion possible, activity could result in heat stroke
41 - 54 °C	Danger: heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely, heat stroke is probable
>54 °C	Extreme danger: heat stroke is imminent

Example:

• Heat Index and temperature for Miami in September 2019:

  

  
  Current situation:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP5D:PT1H/heat_index:C,t_2m:C/25.761681,-80.191788/html?source=mix

Humidex

The Humidex is the Canadian equivalent of the Heat Index. It also describes the effects of humidity in combination with high temperatures. The computation of this index requires air temperatures and dew point temperatures.

humidex:<unit>

Available units: C, F, K

Heat Index	Description
20 - 29 °C	Little to no discomfort
30 - 39 °C	Some discomfort
40 - 45 °C	Great discomfort; avoid exertion
>45 °C	Dangerous, heat stroke possible

Example:

• Humidex and temperature for Miami in September 2019:

  

  
  Current situation:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP5D:PT1H/humidex:C,t_2m:C/25.761681,-80.191788/html?source=mix

Wet-bulb Temperature

The wet-bulb temperature is the lowest temperature that can be reached by direct evaporative cooling. Thereby, the release of water from a saturated surface and the water absorption capacity of the surrounding atmosphere are in equilibrium. Due to the cooling by evaporation, the wet-bulb temperature always falls below the air temperature in dependence of the relative humidity. The difference between wet-bulb temperature and air temperature is larger if the air is drier. The wet-bulb temperature exceeds the dew point temperature, except for relative humidities of 100 %, where air temperature, wet-bulb temperature and dew point temperature coincide.

wet_bulb_t_<level>:<unit>

Available units: C, F, K

Available levels:
2m, 100m, 1000hPa, 950hPa, 925hPa, 900hPa, 850hPa, 800hPa, 750hPa, 700hPa, 600hPa, 500hPa, 400hPa, 300hPa

Available flight levels:
FL10 - FL605 (continuously)

Example:

• Course of air temperature, wet-bulb temperature and dew point temperature at a height of 2 meters for the next five days:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP5D:PT1H/t_2m:C,wet_bulb_t_2m:C,dew_point_2m:C/47.412164,9.340652/html

  

Potential Temperature (θ)

The temperature a dry (unsaturated) air parcel would have if it was brought adiabatically (without heat exchange) to a standard pressure level of 1000 hPa. The potential temperature is a useful measure as its vertical gradient determines the dry static stability of the atmosphere. If the potential temperature increases with height, the atmosphere is stable. If the potential temperature decreases with height, the atmosphere is unstable and convection is favored. The concept of potential temperature becomes less useful when applied to saturated air as potential temperature is not conserved during phase changes of water.

t_potential_<level>:<unit>

Available levels:
1000hPa, 975hPa, 950hPa, 925hPa, 900hPa, 875hPa, 850hPa, 825hPa, 800hPa, 775hPa, 750hPa, 700hPa, 650hPa, 600hPa, 550hPa, 500hPa, 450hPa, 400hPa, 350hPa, 300hPa, 250hPa, 200hPa, 150hPa, 100hPa, 70hPa, 50hPa, 10hPa

Available flight levels:FL10 - FL900 (continuously)

Available units: C, F, K

Examples:

• Cold airmass moving across Europe from north to south on April 14^th, 2020:

  

  
  Current situation:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00Z/t_potential_850hPa:C/europe:600x400/html_map
• Unstable conditions where θ decreases with height during a passage of a cold front on March 24^th, 2023 at 6 UTC:

  

  
  Current situation for St. Gallen:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP2D:PT3H/t_potential_850hPa:C,t_potential_800hPa:C,t_potential_750hPa:C,t_potential_700hPa:C,t_potential_500hPa:C,t_potential_300hPa:C/47.412164,9.340652/html

Interval Values of Potential Temperature (θ)

Gives the mean, maximum or minimum potential temperature at the indicated level over the indicated duration.

t_potential_<measure>_<level>_<interval>:<unit>

Available levels:
1000hPa, 975hPa, 950hPa, 925hPa, 900hPa, 875hPa, 850hPa, 825hPa, 800hPa, 775hPa, 750hPa, 700hPa, 650hPa, 600hPa, 550hPa, 500hPa, 450hPa, 400hPa, 350hPa, 300hPa, 250hPa, 200hPa, 150hPa, 100hPa, 70hPa, 50hPa, 10hPa

Available flight levels:FL10 - FL900 (continuously)

Available units: C, F, K

Available measures: min, mean, max

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

Example

• Current situation in Florence, Italy:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00Z--2024-04-26T00:00:00Z:PT3H/t_potential_max_1000hPa_3h:C,t_potential_max_500hPa_3h:C,t_potential_max_10hPa_3h:C/43.7918,11.214/html?source=mix

Equivalent Potential Temperature (θ_e)

θ_e is a conserved quantity during vertical motions in the atmosphere. It is the temperature an air parcel would reach if all the water vapor condensed and its latent heat was released, while the parcel is lifted adiabatically to 1000 hPa. The concept of θ_e is a powerful tool in order to differentiate between different air masses, which facilitates the identification of frontal systems. Moreover, it allows the assessment of atmospheric stability. If θ_e decreases with height, the atmosphere is unstable and convection is favored.

theta_e_<level>:<unit>

Available levels: 2m - 20000m (continuously), 1000hPa, 950hPa, 925hPa, 900hPa, 850hPa, 800hPa, 750hPa, 700hPa, 600hPa, 500hPa, 400hPa, 300hPa, 200hPa, 100hPa, 70hPa

Available units: C, F, K

Examples:

• Cold airmass moving across Europe from north to south on April 14^th, 2020:

  

  
  Current situation:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00Z/theta_e_850hPa:C/europe:600x400/html_map
• Unstable conditions where θ_e decreases with height during a passage of a cold front on April 13^th, 2020 at 18 UTC:

  

  
  Current situation for St. Gallen:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP2D:PT3H/theta_e_850hPa:C,theta_e_800hPa:C,theta_e_750hPa:C,theta_e_700hPa:C,theta_e_500hPa:C,theta_e_300hPa:C/47.412164,9.340652/html

Wet-bulb Potential Temperature (θ_w)

θ_w is a direct measure of the moist thermal energy of the atmosphere and a useful parameter to determine different air masses (i.e. frontal systems). It describes the temperature of an air parcel that is lifted dry adiabatically to saturation and subsequently brought to 1000 hPa moist adiabatically.

theta_w_<level>:<unit>

Available levels: 2m - 20000m (continuously), 1000hPa, 950hPa, 925hPa, 900hPa, 850hPa, 800hPa, 750hPa, 700hPa, 600hPa, 500hPa, 400hPa, 300hPa, 200hPa, 100hPa, 70hPa

Available units: C, F, K

Examples:

• Cold airmass moving across Europe from north to south on April 14^th, 2020:

  

  
  Current situation:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00Z/theta_w_850hPa:C/europe:600x400/html_map

Wet-bulb Globe Temperature

The wet-bulb globe temperature is a type of apparent temperature used to estimate the effect of temperature, humidity, wind speed (wind chill), and visible and infrared radiation (usually sunlight) on humans. It is used by industrial hygienists, athletes, sporting events and the military to determine appropriate exposure levels to high temperatures.

t_wet_bulb_globe:<unit>

Available units: C, F, K

• Wet-bulb globe tempertaure and 2m temperature from August 20 - August 25, 2023

  

• Current situation in Berlin, Germany:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00Z--2024-04-26T00:00:00Z:PT3H/t_wet_bulb_globe:C,t_2m:C/52.520551,13.461804/html?source=mix

Lake Temperatures

Meteomatics launched its own model for computing lake temperatures. The temperatures are calculated for a vast amount of lakes within Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Historical data is available back to 2015 and a 15-day forecast is provided daily. The resolution of the temperature data is 1 hour. The model can be accessed via:

mm-lake-temp

The corresponding lake temperature parameter has the following identification within the API:

t_lake:C

In order to perform a query for a certain lake, the coordinates are required as input. A list of all available lakes can be fetched by applying a find station query (see Find Station).
For example, the following query creates a list of all available lakes within Germany:
https://api.meteomatics.com/find_station?location=germany&source=mm-lake-temp
The query for the lake temperature must contain the coordinates, the lake temperature parameter t_lake:C and the lake model specification mm-lake-temp.

Example:

• This example shows the lake temperature for Lake Constance.

  

  Current lake temperature with 15-day forecast for Lake Constance:
  https://api.meteomatics.com/2024-04-23T00:00:00ZP15D:PT1H/t_lake:C/47.6124,9.37955/html?source=mm-lake-temp&on_invalid=fill_with_invalid