Custom Data Services
The Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) provides access to archived climate data through the following services:
- Self-service Data Retrieval - Free climate data are accessed through the MRCC Application Tools Environment (cli-MATE), which allows user-friendly access to archived climate data and value-added products.
- Web Service Data Access - Free climate data can be obtained through the Applied Climate Information System (ACIS) by users passing arguments that specify what data is wanted to a URL and the server will send data back (More Info).
- One-time Data Delivery - Data are needed for a unique case, requested data are pulled and returned in the desired format.
- Recurring Data Delivery - Data are needed on a routine basis, data pulls are automated and delivered regularly.
- Data Certification - Data are needed to be certified as accurate, climate data are pulled and certified for legal or insurance purposes.
MRCC staff members may be contacted through the "Submit a Data Request" and "Contact Us" buttons to the right.
Available Data
- Daily Data are provided for nearly 10,000 stations nationwide (some dating back to the late 1800s), which include temperature, precipitation and snow measurements, and degree day calculations.
- Hourly Data are provided for nearly 2,500 stations nationwide, which include measurements of temperature, precipitation, pressure, wind, humidity, present weather, visibility, wind chill, and heat index. Wind roses are available for user specified season and years.
- Mapping of Gridded Daily Data allows the visualization of gridded temperature, precipitation, and snow since 1900 on national, regional, or state scales.
- State and Climate Division Data provides averages of temperature, precipitation, degree days, and drought and precipitation indices on multiple time scales with data available since 1895.
- Additional Data includes higher resolution precipitation data, data from localized and/or specialized weather and climate networks, soil temperature and moisture, solar radiation, storm reports, upper air data, and stream gauge information.
Web Service Data Access
Web services provide the ability to access data via the web. A user can pass arguments that specify what data is wanted to a URL and the server where the URL is hosted will send back the data, generally in a form such as XML or JSON. For climate data users, this provides a simple way to build their own web tools as well as easily access large amounts of data.
Applied Climate Information System (ACIS)
The Applied Climate Information System (ACIS) was developed and is maintained by the NOAA Regional Climate Centers (RCCs). It is designed to manage the complex flow of climate data from the collectors to the end users. It is a system that delivers operational information derived from historical archives and near real-time climate data. ACIS provides metadata and climate data information for national, regional and local datasets. Datasets included (but not limited to) are: the NWS Cooperative Observer Program, Automated Surface/Weather Observing Systems (ASOS/AWOS), and the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). ACIS provides access to gridded datasets such as the Parameter-Elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) and climate models like those from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program.
The MRCC uses the ACIS hourly data feed for all hourly data products. While using the MRCC's hourly data products or creating your own ACIS queries, there are a few important caveats to consider.
- Top-of-the-hour observations only: Hourly products are based solely on top-of-the-hour readings and exclude sub-hourly observations, special observations, and 24-hour summary observations.
- Limited to first-order (ASOS) stations: Only data from first-order U.S. ASOS stations, which are mainly located at medium to large airports, are provided. These stations measure standard weather variables, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, visibility, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure.
- Non-quality-controlled data: Hourly data are based on raw decoded METAR observations, which have not been fully quality-controlled.
Data Disclaimer
The Midwestern Regional Climate Center and/or Purdue University shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of data provided by the Midwestern Regional Climate Center. Data appearing on the Midwestern Regional Climate Center's web site are not legal documents and should not be used as such. For more information about certified records available from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, please see our certification policy or contact the Midwestern Regional Climate Center.
The Midwestern Regional Climate Center gives no warranty, expressed or implied as to the accuracy, reliability, utility or completeness of its data. The user assumes all responsibility and risk for the use of data provided by the Midwestern Regional Climate Center. The Midwestern Regional Climate Center disclaims all warranties, representations or endorsements, expressed or implied, with regard to the data provided, including all implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement.
