The data source for severe weather alerts service

Question

Hi, I want to purchase severe weather alerts service to query the alerts of Australia, what kinds of alerts can I get, and what data source do these alerts come from?

Answer 1

The severe weather data in Azure Maps is powered by AccuWeather. This service aggregates weather data from hundreds of weather agencies around the world (usually government sources). So, it is likely that in Australia the severe weather data is coming from the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. There is no definitive list of severe weather categories for various reasons. I believe one reason is that not weather agencies category them in the same way and use different names. The list of possible values also grows over time. If you use the AccuWeather website, you will even find that the list of categories and the colors are dynamically populated when you move their map because of this. That said, if the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology issues a warning, some version of that warning should appear in this service.

Answer 2

Hello,

You can find this information on the API page:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/maps/weather/get-severe-weather-alerts?tabs=HTTP#examples

Sample:

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

Output:

{
  "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"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

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