About Us

The MesoWest & SynopticLabs teams have jointly built API web services using cloud computing resources to provide improved automated access to real-time and archived weather data. Our focus is to provide improved transfer of environmental information for public use as part of the National Weather Service's National Mesonet Program. We collaborate closely with the NOAA/NWS MADIS program and other National Mesonet Program partners.

About MesoWest, Synoptic Data, and SynopticLabs

MesoWest has been a source of North American weather information for millions of users from the mid-1990's through the present. We rely on hundreds of data providers who make available their provisional, non-proprietary data. Databases at the University of Utah and Western Region of the National Weather Service (NWS) store all the information. Software has been developed over the years by NWS and University of Utah staff to access, archive, and disseminate the information in graphical, tabular, and downloadable formats.

Synoptic Data is building on MesoWest’s expertise to expand beyond North American weather data and offer diverse geophysical data sets to users around the globe. Synoptic Data plays a leading role in the NWS National Mesonet Program delivering valuable data from public and private sources to the NWS and NOAA.

New web service capabilities are being developed jointly by the Synoptic Data and MesoWest software developers. Users are encouraged to provide feedback on these services through this MesoWest & SynopticLabs web site as they become available. There are no costs to users to access the open-source data streams available from MesoWest, SynopticLabs, or Synoptic Data web services. Commercial firms requiring enhanced web services such as access to proprietary data, large volumes of current or retrospective data, alerting, or expanded quality control capabilities should contact Synoptic Data.

MesoWest Services

Research grants from the NWS, other federal and state agencies, and commercial firms have supported MesoWest services over the years. Tools to evaluate real-time and archival data have been and will continue to be available for public safety, fire management, air quality, education, research, and many other diverse applications. During the past 5 years, the University of Utah MesoWest team has participated in the NWS National Mesonet Program (NMP). The NMP facilitates access to non-federal environmental data resources for operational and research applications of the NWS. Ongoing support from the NWS CSTAR program provides resources to help facilitate access to federal data providers as well.

Synoptic and SynopticLabs API Services

Technological advances and resources now available on cloud servers have made it possible to extend our capabilities beyond MesoWest services. The goals of these ongoing efforts are to explore and help transition to operations improved methods that: improve reliability; reduce latency; store and disseminate current and retrospective data efficiently from both open and private sources; and enhance the usability of the data by providing accurate metadata and estimates of data quality.

The API services available from Synoptic and SynopticLabs are available to everyone and provide capabilities far beyond what has been available to MesoWest users in the past. You can begin using the SynopticLabs Mesonet API immediately - we require that you provide some basic information (e.g., name, email address, and intended application) once you move beyond exploring our documentation. Users requiring commercial-grade capabilities should contact SynopticData for further information.

About the MesoWest Group at the University of Utah

MesoWest has relied on a small team of software developers and students over the years. Many related basic and applied research activities that often build on MesoWest capabilities are underway by a larger group of faculty, staff, and students within this part of the Mountain Meteorology Group in the University of Utah Department of Atmospheric Sciences. To learn more about the group's members and ongoing research, click here.