Access & Limits
This section describes how API access works during a free trial, including authentication, free-trial limitations, resolution constraints, available input data, default output variables, and usage credits.
API Keys
API keys issued under the free trial are subject to the restrictions described below. Expanded access is available upon request or through a paid plan.
Free Trial Access
The free trial allows you to evaluate the API’s forecasting capabilities with limited resources.
During the free trial, your API key includes:
- Access to GFS as the default input dataset
- The ability to generate a limited number of high-resolution forecasts
- A predefined set of output variables
Additional datasets, higher usage quotas, or custom configurations may be enabled by contacting us.
Resolution & Forecast Restrictions
Free-trial API keys are restricted to kilometer-scale simulations.
- Allowed: km-scale forecasts
- Restricted: sub-kilometer forecasts (below 1 km), including 200 m resolution
If you intend to run sub-kilometer or custom high-resolution simulations, please contact us to request approval or upgrade your access.
Forecast duration and resolution jointly determine credit usage.
Input Data Availability
The following input datasets are supported based on your API key:
- GFS: Available by default for all free-trial users
- HRRR: Available on demand upon request
Availability of additional input datasets depend on your approved use case.
Output Variables
By default, simulations return a predefined set of meteorological output variables.
Near-Surface Variables
- 2-meter air temperature
- 2-meter relative humidity
- 10-meter wind speed
- 10-meter wind gust
- 10-meter wind vectors (U and V components)
Cloud, Radiation & Boundary Layer
- Maximum vertical cloud fraction
- Downward shortwave radiation flux
- Boundary-layer height
- Turbulent kinetic energy at 15 m
Precipitation
- Instantaneous rain rate
- Instantaneous snow rate
- Accumulated rain precipitation
- Accumulated snow precipitation
Upper-Air Fields
- Wind speed at 850 hPa
- Wind speed at 300 hPa
- Geopotential height at 500 hPa
- Temperature at 850 hPa
- Temperature and geopotential height at 500 hPa
Convective Parameters
- Convective Available Potential Energy
- Convective Inhibition
More output variables are available under paid plans.
Usage Credits
Free-trial usage is governed by forecast credits. Each simulation consumes credits based on its duration and spatial resolution.
The free trial includes one of the following options:
- 5 forecasts with a 48-hour duration at 200 m resolution, or
- 10 forecasts with a 24-hour duration at 200 m resolution
Once credits are exhausted, new simulations will be rejected until additional credits are granted or a paid plan is agreed.
Requesting Expanded Access
You may request expanded access if you need:
- Sub-kilometer resolution (below 1 km)
- Longer forecast durations
- Higher usage quotas
- Additional input datasets (e.g., HRRR or others)
- Custom output variables
To request expanded access, contact us with a brief description of your intended use case.