How to Get a Weather Forecast for Using Python

Weather forecast is more than just small talk—they influence how we plan events, commute, and even prioritize our health. In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, having access to accurate and real-time weather information can make a huge difference.

For example:

• If it’s snowing or raining, you might change your outdoor activity plans.
• High fine dust (PM2.5) levels? You may avoid jogging or postpone a picnic.

That’s why integrating weather forecast into your applications or personal tools can be a smart move—especially when using Python and weather APIs.

Step 1: Get Geographic Coordinates Using Google Maps

Before fetching weather data, you need to identify the location’s latitude and longitude.

How to find coordinates:

1. Go to Google Maps.
2. Right-click on the desired location.
3. Select “What’s here?”
4. Coordinates like this will appear:
   lat = 21.3363571, lon = -158.0282134

Tip:

You can also extract coordinates from the URL when clicking on a map location:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/.../@21.3363571,-158.0282134,17z

Step 2: Use OpenWeatherMap API

Get Started

Visit OpenWeatherMap and:

1. Create an account
2. Get your API key from the dashboard

Step 3: Make a Weather Forecast API Request

Use the following API endpoint:

https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?lat={lat}&lon={lon}&appid={API key}

Example Python Code

import requests

key = '{Input Your Key}'
lat = 21.3363571
lon = -158.0282134

def get_current_weather(key, lon, lat):
    url = f"https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?lat={lat}&lon={lon}&appid={key}"
    response = requests.get(url)
    return response.json()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    weather = get_current_weather(key, lon, lat)
    print(weather)

Example Output (JSON)

{
  "coord": {"lon": -158.0282, "lat": 21.3364},
  "weather": [{"main": "Drizzle", "description": "light intensity drizzle"}],
  "main": {
    "temp": 301.51,
    "feels_like": 304.38,
    "humidity": 69,
    "pressure": 1017
  },
  "wind": {"speed": 5.66, "deg": 50},
  "clouds": {"all": 20},
  "name": "‘Ewa Gentry",
  "cod": 200
}

Understanding Key Weather Metrics

Temperature

• temp: Current temperature in Kelvin (convert to Celsius with temp - 273.15)
• feels_like: How it actually feels, factoring in wind and humidity

Humidity

• A percentage value; 70%+ often feels muggy

Wind

• speed: Wind speed in m/s
• deg: Wind direction in degrees

Barometric Pressure

• pressure: Measured in hPa (hectopascals)
• High pressure: Stable, clear skies
• Low pressure: Rain, storms, or changing conditions

Why Barometric Pressure Matters

Though not as familiar as temperature, barometric pressure is crucial for predicting weather:

For those building event scheduling apps, knowing pressure trends helps prepare users for potential delays or cancellations.

Use Cases for Weather Integration

• Mobile apps: Show users whether to bring an umbrella
• Calendar services: Automatically warn about poor weather for outdoor plans
• Health trackers: Suggest avoiding activity during poor air quality
• LLM chatbots: Use current conditions to recommend activities

Optional: Paid API for More Data

The free plan supports:

• Current weather
• 3-hour forecasts
• Basic air quality

Paid plans unlock:

• Historical weather data
• Advanced pollution data
• Minute-by-minute forecasts

If you’re building something professional, it’s worth investing in additional insights.

Conclusion

With just a few lines of Python and OpenWeatherMap’s API, you can access live weather data for any region in the world. It’s accurate, flexible, and easy to integrate—perfect for enhancing your personal tools or professional applications.

Start small with current weather, and expand into forecasting, alerts, or even combining weather trends with AI for smarter decisions.