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Forecast Parameter

This parameter defines which and in what order you want the data from NOAA's National Weather Service Forecast returned to you. This parameter is a comma delimited array of data chunks, each chunk revolving around one of the types of data available. The chunk ID is the first character of the chunk. Each of these chunks can also have modifiers that can be used to further define what is returned. Please note: some characters are both used as IDs and as modifiers. In addition, the inclusion of an integer value with any chunk that has a Padding Group Modifier available, will set the returned number of characters by either padding or truncating the data.

Core Chunks

Forecast - f

Chunk ID: f
Default Text: The full weather forecast text, left justified, and if the width is provided, then padded to that.
Example: forecast=f returns "Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. North wind around 10 mph."

Modifier Description Example Result
s String forecast=fs
"Partly Cloudy"
t Title forecast=ft
"Forecast"
b Pad or Truncate forecast=fs10b
forecast=ft10b
"Partly Clo"
"Forecast  "
x Truncate Only forecast=fs10x
forecast=ft10x
"Partly Clo"
"Forecast"
r Right Justify forecast=ft10r
"  Forecast"
c Center Justify forecast=ft10c
" Forecast "

Temperature - t

Chunk ID: t
Default Text: Forecast temperature, left justified, and if the width is provided, then padded to that.
Example: forecast=t returns "27"

Modifier Description Example Result
s String forecast=ts
"Low around 27"
t Title forecast=tt
"Daily Minimum Temperature"
OR
"Daily Maximum Temperature"
d Append Degree forecast=td
"27°"
l Short Label forecast=tl
"27Low"
b Pad or Truncate forecast=tt8b
forecast=tl8b
"Daily Mi"
"27Low   "
x Truncate Only forecast=tt8x
forecast=tl8x
"Daily Mi"
"27Low"
r Right Justify forecast=tl8r
"   27Low"
c Center Justify forecast=tl8c
" 27Low  "

Precipitation - r

Chunk ID: r
Default Text: Observed Feels Like degrees in Fahrenheit (if returned by NOAA), left justified, and if the width is provided, then padded to that.
Example: forecast=r returns "40"

Modifier Description Example Result
s String forecast=rs
"Chance of precipitation is 40%"
t Title forecast=rt
"Probability of Precipitation"
b Pad or Truncate forecast=rt8b
forecast=r8b
"Probabil"
"40      "
x Truncate Only forecast=rt8x
forecast=r8x
"Probabil"
"40"
r Right Justify forecast=r8r
"      40"
c Center Justify forecast=r8c
"   40   "

Period - p

Chunk ID: p
Default Text: The period of time the forecast covers, left justified, and if the width is provided, then padded to that.
Example: forecast=p returns "Tonight"

Modifier Description Example Result
s String forecast=ps
"Forecast for Tonight"
t Title forecast=pt
"Period"
b Pad or Truncate forecast=ps10b
forecast=p10b
"Forecast f"
"Tonight   "
x Truncate Only forecast=ps10x
forecast=p10x
"Forecast f"
"Tonight"
r Right Justify forecast=p10r
"   Tonight"
c Center Justify forecast=p10c
" Tonight  "

Advanced Chunks

Start Valid Time - v

Chunk ID: v
Default Text: The starting date and time of the period of time of the forecast in rfc2822 format, left justified, and if the width is provided, then padded to that.
Example: forecast=v returns "2020-12-15T21:00:00-05:00"

Modifier Description Example Result
m Date Time Format A forecast=vm&dtformata=Y-m-d
"2020-12-15"
k Date Time Format B forecast=vk&dtformatb=g:i:s
"9:00:00"
j Date Time Format C forecast=vj&dtformatc=g a
"9 pm"
s String forecast=vs
"Starting 2020-12-15T22:00:00-05:00"
t Title forecast=vt
"Start Valid Time"
b Pad or Truncate forecast=vt8b
forecast=vj8b&dtformatc=g a
"Start Va"
"9 pm    "
x Truncate Only forecast=vt8x
forecast=vj8x&dtformatc=g a
"Start Va"
"9 pm"
r Right Justify forecast=vj8r&dtformatc=g a
"    9 pm"
c Center Justify forecast=vj8c&dtformatc=g a
"  9 pm  "

Labels - w

Chunk ID: w
If you wish to have arbitrary text returned, you can do so using the Labels Chunk.
Example: forecast=w returns "Forecast"

Modifier Description Example Result
m Label A forecast=wm&labela=LabelA
"LabelA"
k Label B forecast=wk&labelb=LabelB
"LabelB"
j Label C forecast=wj&labelc=LabelC
"LabelC"
s String forecast=ws
"Current Forecast"
b Pad or Truncate forecast=ws10b
forecast=wj10b&labelc=LabelC
"Current Fo"
"LabelC    "
x Truncate Only forecast=ws10x
forecast=wj10x&labelc=LabelC
"Current Fo"
"LabelC"
r Right Justify forecast=wl8r
"    LabelC"
c Center Justify forecast=wl8c
"  LabelC  "

Textual Chunks

Character - c

Chunk ID: c
If you wish to have a single specific UTF-8 character returned, you can do so using the Character Chunk.
Integer values between 33 and 126 inclusive are allowed. UTF-8 Character code values can be found at the UTF-8 encoding table and Unicode characters web page.
Example: forecast=c64 returns "@"

Symbol - s

Chunk ID: s
If you wish to have a specific character returned that can be padded or repeated, you can do so using the Symbol Chunk.
Values of ":", "@", "\", "-", ".", "_", "~", "!", "$", "'", "(", ")", "*", ";" are allowed. If only an "s" is sent, then a space will be returned.
Example: forecast=s# returns "#"

Modifier Description Example Result
s repeat instead of pad forecast=s#6
"$$$$$$"
r Right Justify forecast=s#6r
"     #"
c Center Justify forecast=s#6c
"  #   "
Example