Understanding weather integration
Weather data is absolutely crucial for energy forecasting and operations. The Rebase Dashboard API integrates with major weather models to provide real-time and forecast data that you can overlay on your energy visualizations. This comprehensive integration enables advanced energy monitoring and forecasting capabilities.Creating weather layers
Basic weather layer creation
Historical weather data (ERA5)
Available weather models
| Model ID | Type | Coverage | Run Hours (UTC) | Variables |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ECMWF_IFS | Global | Worldwide | 0, 6, 12, 18 | WindSpeed, Temperature, Precipitation, Pressure, SolarRadiation, PrecipitationTypeAccumulated |
ECMWF_AIFS | Global AI | Worldwide | 0, 6, 12, 18 | WindSpeed, Temperature, Precipitation, Pressure, SolarRadiation |
Rebase_AI | Global AI | Worldwide | 0, 12 | WindSpeed, Temperature, Pressure |
NCEP_GFS | Global | Worldwide | 0, 6, 12, 18 | WindSpeed, Temperature, RelativeHumidity, CloudCover, Precipitation, Pressure, SolarRadiation |
ERA5 | Historical | Worldwide | - | WindSpeed, Temperature, Pressure, CloudCover, RelativeHumidity, SolarRadiation |
DWD_ICON-EU | Regional | Europe | 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 | WindSpeed, Temperature, RelativeHumidity, CloudCover, Precipitation, Pressure |
DWD_ICON-D2 | Regional | Germany | 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 | WindSpeed, Temperature, RelativeHumidity, Pressure, CloudCover |
MeteoFrance_ARPEGE-EU | Regional | Europe | 0, 6, 12, 18 | WindSpeed, Temperature, RelativeHumidity, Precipitation, Pressure |
MetNo_MEPS | Regional | Nordic | 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 | WindSpeed, Temperature, RelativeHumidity, Precipitation, Pressure |
MetNo_HIRESMEPS | Regional | Nordic | 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 | WindSpeed, Temperature, RelativeHumidity, Precipitation, Pressure |
Available variables and altitudes
WindSpeed
| Model | Available Altitudes | Units | Visualization Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| All models | 2m, 10m, 20m, 80m, 100m, 120m, 200m | m/s | raster, particle |
Temperature
| Model | Available Altitudes | Units | Visualization Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| All models | 2m, 20m, 80m, 100m | °C | raster, isolines |
RelativeHumidity
| Model | Available Altitudes | Units | Visualization Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCEP_GFS | 2m, 20m, 80m, 100m | % | raster |
| DWD_ICON-EU | 2m, 20m, 80m, 100m | % | raster |
| DWD_ICON-D2 | 2m, 20m, 80m, 100m | % | raster |
| MeteoFrance_ARPEGE-EU | 2m, 20m, 80m, 100m | % | raster |
| MetNo_MEPS | 2m, 20m, 80m, 100m | % | raster |
| MetNo_HIRESMEPS | 2m, 20m, 80m, 100m | % | raster |
| ERA5 | 2m, 20m, 80m, 100m | % | raster |
CloudCover
| Model | Available Altitudes | Units | Visualization Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCEP_GFS | Total, Low, Medium, High, 100m, 3000m, 9000m, 20000m | % | raster |
| DWD_ICON-EU | Low, Medium, High | % | raster |
| DWD_ICON-D2 | Low, Medium, High | % | raster |
| ERA5 | Total, Low, Medium, High | % | raster |
Precipitation
| Model | Available Altitudes | Units | Visualization Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECMWF_IFS | Surface | mm | raster |
| ECMWF_AIFS | Surface | mm | raster |
| NCEP_GFS | Surface | mm | raster |
| DWD_ICON-EU | Surface | mm | raster |
| MeteoFrance_ARPEGE-EU | Surface | mm | raster |
| MetNo_MEPS | Surface | mm | raster |
| MetNo_HIRESMEPS | Surface | mm | raster |
Pressure
| Model | Available Altitudes | Units | Visualization Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| All models | MSL (Mean Sea Level) | hPa | raster, isolines |
SolarRadiation
| Model | Available Altitudes | Units | Visualization Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECMWF_IFS | Surface | W/m² | raster |
| ECMWF_AIFS | Surface | W/m² | raster |
| NCEP_GFS | Surface | W/m² | raster |
| ERA5 | Surface | W/m² | raster |
PrecipitationTypeAccumulated
| Model | Available Altitudes | Units | Visualization Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECMWF_IFS | Surface | mm | raster |
Weather Model Requirements
Forecast Models
- Required:
run_hourandrun_day(YYYY-MM-DD format) - Run Hours: Varies by model (see table above)
- Example:
run_hour=12, run_day="2025-01-15"
Historical Models
- Required: None of
run_hourorrun_day(use frontend date range settings) - Example: No run parameters needed
Layer types
Raster layers (wl:RasterLayer)
Most common type for continuous weather data like temperature, wind speed, and precipitation.Isoline layers (wl:IsolineLayer)
Perfect for pressure, temperature contours, and other isoline data.Particle layers (wl:ParticleLayer)
Great for wind direction visualization with animated particles.Creating weather map components
Once the desired weather layers have been created, the next step is to add them to a Map Component to visualize them:Multiple weather layers
Multiple weather variables can be combined in a single map:Combining weather and map layers
You can now combine weather layers with map layers in a single component:Weather layer management
Creating weather layers
Updating weather layers
Retrieving weather layers
Deleting weather layers
Layer type reference
Weather Layer Types
| Type | Description | Required Fields |
|---|---|---|
wl:RasterLayer | Raster weather data visualization | weather_model_id, variable, altitude |
wl:ParticleLayer | Particle-based weather visualization | weather_model_id, variable, altitude |
wl:IsolineLayer | Contour/isoline weather visualization | weather_model_id, variable, altitude |
Model Selection Guide
For Global Applications
- High Accuracy: ECMWF_IFS (gold standard)
- AI-Powered: ECMWF_AIFS or Rebase_AI
- Frequent Updates: NCEP_GFS
- Historical Analysis: ERA5
For European Applications
- High Resolution: DWD_ICON-EU or MeteoFrance_ARPEGE-EU
- German Focus: DWD_ICON-D2
- Frequent Updates: DWD_ICON-EU (every 3 hours)
For Nordic Applications
- Ensemble: MetNo_MEPS
- High Resolution: MetNo_HIRESMEPS (hourly updates)
For Energy Applications
- Wind Energy: Focus on WindSpeed at 100m altitude
- Solar Energy: Use SolarRadiation and CloudCover
- Hydropower: Precipitation and Temperature
- Grid Operations: Pressure and Temperature for load forecasting
Important Limitations
- No description field: Weather layers only have a name, no description
- No forecast hours: Time range is controlled by run_hour/run_day for forecast models
- No date ranges for ERA5: Use frontend date range settings instead
- Limited deckgl_props: Only basic DeckGL properties are supported
- No layer controls: Advanced layer controls are not implemented
- Model-specific requirements: Different models have different parameter requirements
- Limited variables: Not all weather variables may be available in all models
- No custom color schemes: Advanced color configurations are not supported
Best practices
Model selection
- Use ECMWF IFS for high-accuracy forecasts
- Use ERA5 for historical analysis
- Use NCEP GFS for frequent updates
- Consider model resolution for your area of interest
Performance optimization
- Use appropriate layer types for your data
- Limit the number of weather layers per map
- Consider data update frequency
- Cache weather data for frequently accessed areas
Data quality
- Validate weather data against observations
- Use multiple models for comparison
- Monitor forecast accuracy over time
- Implement proper error handling