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5 Sources of Historial Weather Data

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Most of the time when you think about the weather, you think about current conditions and forecasts. But if you're a hardcore weather buff, you may be curious about historical weather data. Maybe you want to know the weather on the day you were born, or maybe you want to remember the conditions on a special day. When you want to find historical weather data, there are several options to consider, some free and some requiring payment. Here are five sources of historical weather data that are worth checking out.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The federal government has databases that allow you to search for and request historical weather data. From weather data for last week to older data you can order from climate and weather services, the NOAA databases store a wealth of information, including interactive climate maps. You have to know what you're looking for to find detailed information, and you may have to dig through several databases to find what you need, but a ton of information is available in the NOAA historical databases.

Dark Sky App

The Dark Sky app isn't just a great resource for current weather conditions and forecasts; it's also a terrific way to search for basic historical weather information. The app's Time Machine feature allows you to look at weather information from the past for specific locations. Scroll to a particular date to find hourly temperatures and humidity statistics as well as wind speeds. Some of the data available for current conditions isn't available in the Time Machine, so you have to be patient while weeding screens with no data, but if you're looking for basic data, Dark Sky can give you some information.

Meteorological Simulation Data Ingest System (MADIS)

Another government data service, MADIS aggregates data from NOAA, other federal and state agencies, the private sector and academia. It pulls information from varied sources and translates all of it into a common format for easy use. If you're looking for observational data from the planet's surface as well as sources in the atmosphere like airplanes and weather balloons, you can find what you're looking for on MADIS. You have to apply to become a MADIS user, but once you're in, you have an impressive amount of data at your fingertips.

Weather Source

In addition to government weather resources, you can find private entities that offer historical weather data. Weather Source is one of those companies. This corporation is geared toward commercial interests, so if your business needs historical weather or climate data, the company can put together the information you need. Weather Source relies on satellite and mapping technologies to help businesses pinpoint weather data as closely as possible. The data only goes back to the year 2000, so if your company needs earlier data, you'll have to look elsewhere. Weather Source charges a fee for consulting services.

Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) Climate Group

This organization based out of Oregon State University gathers decades of weather and climate data to create estimates of changes to the climate. PRISM makes its data available to the public, usually for free but occasionally for a fee. It has developed a drought indicator, and the 30-year normal measurements help you understand what a ten-year period of climate looks like. One of the best features is the data explorer, where you can specify a location and the parameters you want to see. PRISM concentrates more on big-picture climate data, so if you're looking for more specific, smaller scale weather data, PRISM isn't for you.