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Weather Stations and Sensors

The 1 Minute Observations API provides data from MetService's extensive network of weather monitoring equipment across New Zealand.

Station Types​

Weather Stations​

Traditional meteorological stations equipped with comprehensive sensor suites for measuring:

  • Air temperature and humidity
  • Wind speed and direction
  • Atmospheric pressure
  • Precipitation
  • Solar radiation (at some locations)

Aviation Sensors​

Specialized sensors at airports and airfields, identified by ICAO codes:

  • Runway weather monitoring
  • Aviation-specific measurements
  • Enhanced wind and visibility sensors
  • Automated weather station (AWS) data

Road Weather Sensors​

Transportation weather monitoring equipment for:

  • Road surface conditions
  • Pavement temperature
  • Ice detection
  • Visibility monitoring

Station Identification​

WMO ID​

All stations have a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) identifier:

  • 5-digit numeric code
  • Globally unique identifier
  • Primary identifier for API requests

Example: 93110 (Wellington Airport)

ICAO ID​

Aviation stations also have International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) codes:

  • 4-character alphanumeric code
  • Used in aviation weather reports
  • Alternative identifier for API requests

Example: NZWN (Wellington Airport)

Station Metadata​

When available, station information includes:

  • Name - Human-readable station name
  • Latitude/Longitude - Precise coordinates (decimal degrees)
  • Elevation - Height above sea level (meters)
  • Station Type - Weather station, runway sensor, or road sensor

Active Stations​

The /weatherStation endpoint returns only stations that have reported at least one observation within the last 60 minutes. This ensures you're working with currently active monitoring equipment.

Example Station List Response​

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "request-time": "2021-09-27T00:24:42Z",
  "path": "/observations/nz/1-minute/weatherStation",
  "attributes": {
    "dataset": "observation:1minuteobservation",
    "provider": "metservice"
  },
  "results": [
    {
      "WMOID": 93814,
      "ICAOID": "NZCEX",
      "name": "Crown Range",
      "latitude": -44.993,
      "longitude": 168.939,
      "elevation": 1070
    },
    {
      "WMOID": 93819,
      "ICAOID": "NZWXX",
      "name": "Waipahi",
      "latitude": -46.112,
      "longitude": 169.227,
      "elevation": 125
    }
  ]
}

Data Availability​

Variable Coverage​

Not all stations measure all variables. The available measurements depend on:

  • Installed sensor equipment
  • Sensor maintenance status
  • Environmental conditions
  • Station configuration

Temporal Coverage​

  • Real-time: Latest observations typically available within 2-3 minutes
  • Historical: Up to 24 hours of historical data available via API
  • Continuity: Some stations may have gaps due to maintenance or equipment issues

Finding Stations​

By Location​

Use the station metadata (latitude/longitude) to find stations near your area of interest.

By Type​

  • Stations with ICAO codes are aviation-focused
  • Stations without ICAO codes are typically weather stations or road sensors
  • Check the station name for additional context

By Capability​

Make a test request to see what variables are available at each station before building your application logic.

Best Practices​

Station Discovery​

  1. Call /weatherStation to get the current list of active stations
  2. Cache this information (refresh periodically)
  3. Filter stations based on your geographic area of interest
  4. Test a few stations to understand their data characteristics

Handling Station Changes​

  • Station lists can change due to maintenance, equipment upgrades, or network changes
  • Always handle cases where a previously available station may no longer be active
  • Implement fallback logic for critical applications

Geographic Considerations​

  • New Zealand spans multiple climate zones
  • Coastal vs. inland stations may have different measurement characteristics
  • Elevation significantly affects temperature and pressure readings
  • Consider local geography when interpreting data

Common Station Examples​

Major Airports​

  • NZWN (93110) - Wellington Airport
  • NZAA (93110) - Auckland Airport
  • NZCH (93780) - Christchurch Airport

Mountain Stations​

  • NZCEX (93814) - Crown Range (1070m elevation)
  • High-altitude stations provide unique alpine weather data

Coastal Stations​

  • Provide marine-influenced weather observations
  • Important for coastal weather monitoring

For the most current list of active stations and their capabilities, always use the /weatherStation endpoint in your applications.