Weather - Get Severe Weather Alerts

Use to get information about severe weather conditions such as hurricanes, thunderstorms, flooding, lightning, heat waves or forest fires for a given location.

Severe weather phenomenon can significantly impact our everyday life and business operations. For example, severe weather conditions such as tropical storms, high winds or flooding can close roads and force logistics companies to reroute their fleet causing delays in reaching destinations and breaking the cold chain of refrigerated food products.

The Get Severe Weather Alerts API is an HTTP GET request that returns the severe weather alerts that are available worldwide from both official Government Meteorological Agencies and leading global to regional weather alert providers. The service can return details such as alert type, category, level and detailed description about the active severe alerts for the requested location, like hurricanes, thunderstorms, lightning, heat waves or forest fires. For more information, see Request severe weather alerts

GET https://atlas.microsoft.com/weather/severe/alerts/json?api-version=1.1&query={query}
GET https://atlas.microsoft.com/weather/severe/alerts/json?api-version=1.1&query={query}&language={language}&details={details}

URI Parameters

Name In Required Type Description
format
path True

JsonFormat

Desired format of the response. Only json format is supported.

api-version
query True

string

Version number of Azure Maps API.

query
query True

number[]

The applicable query specified as a comma separated string composed by latitude followed by longitude e.g. "47.641268,-122.125679".

Weather information is generally available for locations on land, bodies of water surrounded by land, and areas of the ocean that are within approximately 50 nautical miles of a coastline.

details
query

string

Return full details for the severe weather alerts. Available values are

  • true - Returns full details. By default all details are returned.
  • false - Returns a truncated version of the alerts data, which excludes the area-specific full description of alert details (alertDetails).
language
query

string

Language in which search results should be returned. Should be one of supported IETF language tags, case insensitive. When data in specified language is not available for a specific field, default language is used.

Please refer to Supported Languages for details.

Request Header

Name Required Type Description
x-ms-client-id

string

Specifies which account is intended for usage in conjunction with the Microsoft Entra ID security model. It represents a unique ID for the Azure Maps account and can be retrieved from the Azure Maps management plane Account API. To use Microsoft Entra ID security in Azure Maps see the following articles for guidance.

Responses

Name Type Description
200 OK

SevereWeatherAlertsResult

OK,

Other Status Codes

ErrorResponse

An unexpected error occurred.

Security

AADToken

These are the Microsoft Entra OAuth 2.0 Flows. When paired with Azure role-based access control it can be used to control access to Azure Maps REST APIs. Azure role-based access controls are used to designate access to one or more Azure Maps resource account or sub-resources. Any user, group, or service principal can be granted access via a built-in role or a custom role composed of one or more permissions to Azure Maps REST APIs.

To implement scenarios, we recommend viewing authentication concepts. In summary, this security definition provides a solution for modeling application(s) via objects capable of access control on specific APIs and scopes.

Notes

  • This security definition requires the use of the x-ms-client-id header to indicate which Azure Maps resource the application is requesting access to. This can be acquired from the Maps management API.

The Authorization URL is specific to the Azure public cloud instance. Sovereign clouds have unique Authorization URLs and Microsoft Entra ID configurations. * The Azure role-based access control is configured from the Azure management plane via Azure portal, PowerShell, CLI, Azure SDKs, or REST APIs. * Usage of the Azure Maps Web SDK allows for configuration based setup of an application for multiple use cases.

Type: oauth2
Flow: implicit
Authorization URL: https://login.microsoftonline.com/common/oauth2/authorize

Scopes

Name Description
https://atlas.microsoft.com/.default https://atlas.microsoft.com/.default

subscription-key

This is a shared key that is provisioned when you Create an Azure Maps account in the Azure portal or using PowerShell, CLI, Azure SDKs, or REST API.

With this key, any application can access all REST API. In other words, this key can be used as a master key in the account that they are issued in.

For publicly exposed applications, our recommendation is to use the confidential client applications approach to access Azure Maps REST APIs so your key can be securely stored.

Type: apiKey
In: query

SAS Token

This is a shared access signature token is created from the List SAS operation on the Azure Maps resource through the Azure management plane via Azure portal, PowerShell, CLI, Azure SDKs, or REST APIs.

With this token, any application is authorized to access with Azure role-based access controls and fine-grain control to the expiration, rate, and region(s) of use for the particular token. In other words, the SAS Token can be used to allow applications to control access in a more secured way than the shared key.

For publicly exposed applications, our recommendation is to configure a specific list of allowed origins on the Map account resource to limit rendering abuse and regularly renew the SAS Token.

Type: apiKey
In: header

Examples

Successfully retrieve severe weather alerts

Sample request

GET https://atlas.microsoft.com/weather/severe/alerts/json?api-version=1.1&query=48.057,-81.091

Sample response

{
  "results": [
    {
      "countryCode": "CA",
      "alertId": 242621,
      "description": {
        "localized": "Heat Warning",
        "english": "Heat Warning"
      },
      "category": "NON-PRECIPITATION",
      "priority": 31,
      "source": "Environment Canada",
      "sourceId": 3,
      "alertAreas": [
        {
          "name": "Kirkland Lake - Englehart",
          "summary": "Heat Warning in effect until Thursday, 3:16 AM EDT.  Source: Environment Canada",
          "startTime": "2020-06-29T19:44:00+00:00",
          "endTime": "2020-07-02T07:16:03+00:00",
          "latestStatus": {
            "localized": "Continue",
            "english": "Continue"
          },
          "alertDetails": "\nA heat event continues through Thursday.\n\nDaytime high temperatures in the low thirties with overnight lows near 18 degrees Celsius are expected to continue until Thursday. Humidex values are expected to reach between 36 and 40 today. Cooler air will move into the region Thursday night. \n\nPlease refer to your public forecast for further details on expected temperatures.\n\nHot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the air quality health index to approach the high risk category.\n\n###\n\nExtreme heat affects everyone.\n\nThe risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.\n\nWatch for the effects of heat illness: swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions.\n\nPlease continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.\n",
          "alertDetailsLanguageCode": "en-CA"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "countryCode": "CA",
      "alertId": 242633,
      "description": {
        "localized": "Heat Warning",
        "english": "Heat Warning"
      },
      "category": "NON-PRECIPITATION",
      "priority": 31,
      "source": "Environment Canada",
      "sourceId": 3,
      "alertAreas": [
        {
          "name": "Kirkland Lake - Englehart",
          "summary": "Heat Warning in effect until 9:25 PM EDT.  Source: Environment Canada",
          "startTime": "2020-07-01T09:25:59+00:00",
          "endTime": "2020-07-02T01:25:59+00:00",
          "latestStatus": {
            "localized": "New",
            "english": "New"
          },
          "alertDetails": "\nA heat event is expected through Thursday.  \n\nDaytime high temperatures in the low thirties on Wednesday and Thursday with overnight lows near 18 degrees Celsius are expected. This heat event may be extended into the weekend with daytime high temperatures near 30 degrees Celsius. \n\nPlease refer to your public forecast for further details on expected temperatures.  \n\nHot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and can result in the Air Quality Health Index to approach the high risk category.\n\n###\n\nExtreme heat affects everyone.\n\nThe risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.\n\nPlease continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.\n",
          "alertDetailsLanguageCode": "en-CA"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Definitions

Name Description
AlertArea

Information about a severe weather alert issued within an affected area(s). If multiple alerts are active for the same location, the alerts will be returned in order of priority within the API response, with the highest priority alert being returned at the top of the response.

ErrorAdditionalInfo

The resource management error additional info.

ErrorDetail

The error detail.

ErrorResponse

Error response

JsonFormat

Desired format of the response. Only json format is supported.

LatestStatus

The latest status on the alert in the current area.

LatestStatusKeyword

Keyword for the latest status of the alert.

SevereWeatherAlert

Information about a severe weather alert.

SevereWeatherAlertDescription

Description of a severe weather alert.

SevereWeatherAlertsResult

This object is returned from a successful Get Severe Weather Alerts call.

AlertArea

Information about a severe weather alert issued within an affected area(s). If multiple alerts are active for the same location, the alerts will be returned in order of priority within the API response, with the highest priority alert being returned at the top of the response.

Name Type Description
alertDetails

string

Full details associated with the alert. Returned if details=True. This field is always returned in the language(s) of choice by the issuing provider and Azure Maps only returns what is created by the provider. Please note, some countries/regions may offer their native language and English. Language parameter won’t apply to this field.

alertDetailsLanguageCode

string

Language of the alertDetails. This field helps to point out that the language of the alertDetails may differ from the requested language parameter. Returned if details=True. Language code has been derived from the ISO 639-1 Alpha-2 codes.

endTime

string

The end date and time of the alert in ISO 8601 format, for example, 2019-10-27T19:39:57-08:00. If the alert crosses multiple time zones the returned time in the response is the local time to the requested coordinate location.

latestStatus

LatestStatus

The latest status of the alert in the current area.

name

string

The name of an area which is affected by the alert. The location that was requested falls under the alert area.

startTime

string

The start date and time of the alert in ISO 8601 format, for example, 2019-10-27T19:39:57-08:00. If the alert crosses multiple time zones the returned time in the response is the local time to the requested coordinate location.

summary

string

Text summarizing the alert in the returned area.

ErrorAdditionalInfo

The resource management error additional info.

Name Type Description
info

object

The additional info.

type

string

The additional info type.

ErrorDetail

The error detail.

Name Type Description
additionalInfo

ErrorAdditionalInfo[]

The error additional info.

code

string

The error code.

details

ErrorDetail[]

The error details.

message

string

The error message.

target

string

The error target.

ErrorResponse

Error response

Name Type Description
error

ErrorDetail

The error object.

JsonFormat

Desired format of the response. Only json format is supported.

Name Type Description
json

string

The JavaScript Object Notation Data Interchange Format

LatestStatus

The latest status on the alert in the current area.

Name Type Description
english

LatestStatusKeyword

Latest status keyword for the alert, in English (en-US).

localized

string

The latest status keyword for the alert, in the specified language. By default, returned in English (en-US).

LatestStatusKeyword

Keyword for the latest status of the alert.

Name Type Description
Cancel

string

"Cancel" - the alert has been canceled prior to its original expiration time.

Continue

string

"Continue" - the alert has been updated since its initial issuance, but no changes were made to alertDetails, startTime, endTime, or class.

Correct

string

"Correct" - the alert has been modified to correct a previous error.

Expire

string

"Expire" - the alert has expired and is no longer active.

Extend

string

"Extend" - the alert has been extended in time, in area, or both since its initial issuance.

New

string

"New" - the status of an alert upon initial issuance.

Update

string

"Update" - the alert has been updated since its initial issuance.

Upgrade

string

"Upgrade" - the alert has been upgraded to a higher class or category since its initial issuance.

SevereWeatherAlert

Information about a severe weather alert.

Name Type Description
alertAreas

AlertArea[]

Information about the alert specific to the affected area(s).

alertId

integer

A unique numerical identifier for a weather alert.

category

string

Category of the alert.

class

string

Classification of the alert. This field is not available for all countries and therefore not always returned.

countryCode

string

2-character ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 country code, for example, "US".

description

SevereWeatherAlertDescription

Description of the alert.

disclaimer

string

A disclaimer regarding the source of the alert information. This field is not always available. For example, disclaimer may include details about the delays or potential issues related to the alarm.

level

string

Severity level of the alert. This field is not available for all countries and therefore not always returned.

priority

integer

Number signifying the importance or ranking order of the given alert within the country/region it has originated. A lower number signifies a higher priority. For example, 1 is the highest priority. The number varies by country/region and can change over time as each country/region evolves their alert systems.

source

string

The provider of the alert information. By default the source is returned in English (en-US). The alerts are from official Government Meteorological Agencies and leading global weather alert providers.

sourceId

integer

A numerical identifier associated with the source provider name of the alert data.

SevereWeatherAlertDescription

Description of a severe weather alert.

Name Type Description
english

string

Description of the alert in English (en-US).

localized

string

Description of the alert in the specified language. By default English (en-US) is returned if the language parameter is not specified in the request.

SevereWeatherAlertsResult

This object is returned from a successful Get Severe Weather Alerts call.

Name Type Description
results

SevereWeatherAlert[]

A list of all severe weather alerts for the queried location.