---
title: "Weather radar map tiles"
method: GET
path: "/radar.json"
tags: ["Radar"]
---

# Weather radar map tiles

`GET /radar.json`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.weatherapi.com/v1`
- URL: `https://api.weatherapi.com/v1/radar.json`
- Auth: API key in query parameter `key`

Radar frames for the past two hours (every 5 minutes) plus a one-hour nowcast, a signed map tile URL template (256 px Web Mercator PNG, transparent), colour legend and attribution. Coverage: United States incl. Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam (NOAA MRMS), Germany (DWD) and most of Europe (EUMETNET OPERA). The tile URL is valid for two hours; tiles do not count as API calls. `q` is the map centre; `covered` says whether radar reaches it. Pro+ plan and above; Free and Starter keys get 403 / error 2009.

## Query parameters

- `key` string, required
- `q` string, required

## Response `200`

Radar frames and tile URL

- RadarResponse
  - `location` Location: Location metadata returned with every weather response.
    - `name` string: Location name
    - `region` string: Region or state
    - `country` string: Country name
    - `lat` number, float: Latitude
    - `lon` number, float: Longitude
    - `tz_id` string: IANA timezone ID, e.g. Europe/London
    - `localtime_epoch` integer: Local time as Unix epoch
    - `localtime` string: Local date and time string
  - `radar` Radar
    - `available` boolean
    - `covered` boolean: Whether q is inside radar coverage.
    - `coverage_note` string
    - `tile_url` string: Template: replace {z}, {x}, {y} and {time}. Signed; valid until tile_url_expires_epoch.
    - `tile_url_expires_epoch` integer
    - `tile_size` integer
    - `min_zoom` integer
    - `max_zoom` integer
    - `sources` RadarSource[]
      - `id` string
      - `name` string
      - `latest_epoch` integer
      - `nowcast_minutes` integer
      - `bounds` number[]: [south, west, north, east] in degrees.
    - `frames` RadarFrame[]: Oldest first.
      - `time` string: UTC yyyyMMddHHmm, substituted for {time} in tile_url.
      - `time_epoch` integer
      - `type` 'observed' | 'nowcast'
    - `legend` RadarLegendEntry[]
      - `from_mm_h` number
      - `color` string
    - `attribution` string: Credit to show on the map.

## Other responses

- `400`: Bad request — invalid parameter or location not found.
- `401`: Unauthorized — API key missing or invalid.
- `403`: Forbidden — API key quota exceeded, disabled, or plan does not include this resource.

## Changes

- **2026-11-04** `26c06925a7e0`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/weatherapi/apis/weatherapi-com/changes/radar.json/get.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/weatherapi/apis/weatherapi-com.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/weatherapi/apis/weatherapi-com/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/weatherapi/apis/weatherapi-com/revisions/26c06925a7e0?raw)