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FAQ

Some of the most frequent questions are answered below.

Data​

Why do some time series contain future data?

By default, Meteostat substitutes missing observations with model data. Model data may include weather forecasts to improve the user experience when working with near-real-time data. You can opt out of model data if you require observation-only results.

Why do hourly and daily data not always match?

Meteostat provides weather observations in three different frequencies: hourly, daily and monthly. Let's say you want to know how the weather was like at a particular day in the past. You can either aggregate a day's hourly records or use the daily record right away. It is probably confusing that the results do not always match. That is because daily data is not always calculated the same way. For example, the daily temperature average can be calculated from 24 hourly or 240 10-minutely observations. The results might be a little different. Click here to learn more about how data is aggregated.

How accurate is Meteostat data?

As Meteostat does not operate weather stations itself, it is hard to give a definitive answer. We use real observation data whenever possible. Therefore, Meteostat data should be very accurate in most cases. Keep in mind that model data, which is used as a substitute for missing observations by default, can be inaccurate in certain situations (e.g. local precipitation events). Click here to learn more about our data quality.

Meteostat​

Is Meteostat a public or governmental service?

Meteostat is not a public or governmental service, and it is not affiliated with Meteosat. We collect data from national weather services such as NOAA and DWD. Meteostat is an independent initiative that relies on donations, sponsorship, and other funding sources.

Under which license is Meteostat data distributed?

Meteostat data is distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC 4.0 license. See Terms for details.

Can I support Meteostat?

We are grateful for all forms of support. Learn more about contributing and donating.