Weather Data Instructions - Pyosch/powertac-server GitHub Wiki

Gather Weather Data

  1. Go to the URL: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/search#t=firstTabLink
  2. Click on Hourly/Sub-Hourly Data
  3. Click on Surface Data
  4. A map should popup. Type the city you want to get data for in the Locator textbox.
  5. A box should popup with search results. Select the locations you want to collect data for.
  6. When that location pops up on the map click on the "Select Tools" button on the toolbar in the upper left hand corner of the screen
  7. Hit the "Polygon" button on the toolbar that popped up.
  8. Some results should popup with a list of stations, check the station you want to gather data for.
  9. Once your stations are selected click the "Get Selected Data" button.
  10. A "Data Access Options" window should popup select Simplified, then click on the "Access Data" button.
  11. A new window/tab should popup where you should select the start and end dates.
  12. Check the "Inventory Review" checkbox
  13. Type in an email address you want the data to be sent to
  14. Click the "Submit Request" Button
  15. Done - Wait for the data to show up in your email account

Gather Forecast Weather Data

  1. Goto http://has.ncdc.noaa.gov/pls/plhas/HAS.FileAppSelect?datasetname=9957ANX

  2. Select the stations you wish to gather data from(based on my experience some of these stations don't have data that completely complete which if I remember right is represented by the number "99", you may want to check on that though. So, you may want to try different stations for that same area. It is kinda a hit and miss situation unfortunately.

  3. Then select the bulletin ID. This I had to call NOAA or the National Climatic Data Center for. From what I understand, each of these bulletin ID will give you certain types of weather data.

  4. The type in or select that dates which you want weather data. For an example, if you want weather data from the last decade you would enter in 1/1/2000-12/31/2009.

  5. Type in your email address.

  6. For Submit Batch select "Yes"

  7. Click on "Continue with Selections"

  8. Done