Alerts

`GET /alerts`

Overview

Returns active National Weather Service (NWS) alerts as GeoJSON features. Use this to list current warnings/watches/statements for a location or alert type. No authentication required.

HTTP request

GET https://api.weather.gov/alerts

Headers & Auth

User-Agent (required): A string identifying your app and contact (for example, MyWeatherApp/1.0 (me@myweatherapp.com).

Accept (recommended): application/geo+json

Authorization: Not required.

Path parameters

None for this endpoint

Query parameters

Name	Description	Required	Example
`area`	Two-letter state or zone code	No	`NY`
`event`	Specific alert event type	No	`Flood Warning`
`status`	Filter by alert status (`actual`, `expired`)	No	`actual`
`zone`	Filter by zone ID (for example, public or fire zones)	No	`NYZ001`
`severity`	Filter by severity level	No	`Severe`
`message_type`	Original, update, cancel, etc.	No	`Alert`

Decision Guide

Choosing the right filter

If you want alerts for…	Use…
Entire state	`area=NY`
A specific point/city	`point=lat,lon`
A specific county or forecast region	`zone=NYZ###`
Specific alert types	`event=Flood Warning`

Example Request (cURL)

Retrieve flood all flood warnings in effect for New York State.

curl -s -H "User-Agent: your-email@example.com" -H "Accept: application/geo+json" "https://api.weather.gov/alerts?area=NY&event=Flood%20Warning"

Example response (cURL)

Click to expand

{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "features": [
    {
      "id": "https://api.weather.gov/alerts/abc123",
      "type": "Feature",
      "properties": {
        "event": "Flood Warning",
        "status": "Actual",
        "messageType": "Alert",
        "severity": "Severe",
        "certainty": "Likely",
        "urgency": "Immediate",
        "areaDesc": "Monroe County, NY",
        "sent": "2023-10-15T14:22:00-04:00",
        "effective": "2023-10-15T14:22:00-04:00",
        "expires": "2023-10-15T20:00:00-04:00"
      },
      "geometry": {
        "type": "Polygon",
        "coordinates": [
          [
            [-77.61092, 43.16103],
            [-77.61438, 43.15739],
            [-77.60671, 43.15388],
            [-77.60289, 43.15822],
            [-77.61092, 43.16103]
          ]
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}

Example Request (Javascript)

The following JavaScript example returns active Flood Warnings for a gfor exampleaphic point in Monroe County, NY. The point parameter (latitude, longitude) is the most precise way to request alerts because it resolves to the specific forecast zones covering that location. If no active Flood Warnings affect that point, the response may be empty even if alerts are active in nearby areas.

async function getFloodAlerts() {
  const url = "https://api.weather.gov/alerts?event=Flood%20Warning&point=43.1610,-77.6109";

  const response = await fetch(url, {
    headers: {
      "User-Agent": "MyWeatherApp/1.0 (me@example.com)",
      "Accept": "application/geo+json"
    }
  });

  if (!response.ok) {
    console.error("NWS API error:", response.status);
    return;
  }

  const data = await response.json();
  console.log("Active flood alerts:", data);
}

getFloodAlerts();

Example Response (JavaScript)

200 OK—minimal response (matching Flood Warning at thfor exampleven point)

{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "features": [
    {
      "id": "https://api.weather.gov/alerts/abc123",
      "type": "Feature",
      "properties": {
        "event": "Flood Warning",
        "status": "Actual",
        "messageType": "Alert",
        "severity": "Severe",
        "certainty": "Likely",
        "urgency": "Immediate",
        "areaDesc": "Monroe County, NY",
        "sent": "2025-03-15T14:22:00-04:00",
        "effective": "2025-03-15T14:22:00-04:00",
        "expires": "2025-03-15T20:00:00-04:00",
        "headline": "Flood Warning issued for Monroe County, NY",
        "description": "Flooding is occurring or imminent along small streams and low-lying areas.",
        "instruction": "Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads."
      },
      "geometry": null
    }
  ]
}

Response fields for all queries (abbreviated list)

Extended field reference (selected)

Field	Type	Description
`properties.messageType`	string	Alert lifecycle message such as `Alert`, `Update`, `Cancel`.
`properties.category`	string	Category (for example: `Met`).
`properties.headline`	string	Short summary of the alert.
`properties.description`	string	Long-form description of the hazard.
`properties.instruction`	string	Recommended protective actions.
`properties.senderName`	string	Issuing NWS office name.
`properties.parameters`	object	Extra metadata such as VTEC codes.

For a complete list of fields defined in the CAP alert format used by NWS, see: OpenAPI Full Schema

Status codes

Code	Meaning
200	OK–Successful request.
400	Bad Request–Invalid query or filter.
404	Not Found–No alerts matched your query.
➡️ See HTTP Status Codes for a full reference.

Notes & tips

User-Agent required: Requests without a clear User-Agent may be rejected.
Pagination: Use the HTTP Link header with rel="next" to paginate large result sets.
Filtering quirks: event usually expects an exact string match (for example, Tornado Warning).
Geometry: Some alerts omit geometry; rely on areaDesc as a fallback.
Format: Prefer Accept: application/geo+json to ensurfor exampleoJSON responses.

👉Next: Endpoints: Forecasts →