How to Fetch Weather Data from a Public API in Python

Fetches and parses weather data from a free public API using only the Python standard library.

Easy Python 3.9+ Jun 27, 2026 Files & data 1 views 0 copies

api json weather urllib http

Python code

14 lines

Python 3.9+

import urllib.request
import json

def get_weather(city):
    base_url = f"https://wttr.in/{city}?format=j1"
    with urllib.request.urlopen(base_url) as response:
        data = json.loads(response.read().decode())
    current = data["current_condition"][0]
    temp = current["temp_C"]
    desc = current["weatherDesc"][0]["value"]
    return f"Weather in {city}: {temp}°C, {desc}"

if __name__ == "__main__":
    print(get_weather("London"))

Output

stdout

Weather in London: 15°C, Partly cloudy

How it works

This code uses urllib.request.urlopen to make an HTTP GET request to the wttr.in API, which returns JSON when the ?format=j1 query parameter is provided. The response is decoded and parsed with json.loads, then specific fields are accessed from the current_condition list. The function returns a formatted string. The if __name__ == "__main__" guard ensures the code only runs when executed directly.

Common mistakes

Forgetting to decode bytes before parsing JSON.
Assuming the API response always contains the expected keys without error handling.
Hardcoding the city name instead of accepting user input.

Variations

Use `requests.get` from the third-party `requests` library for a more concise HTTP request.
Accept city as command-line argument via `sys.argv`.

Real-world use cases

Building a simple CLI weather app for quick updates when planning outdoor work.
Integrating live weather conditions into a dashboard or monitoring system.
Automating weather-based alerts for agriculture or event logistics.

How to Fetch Weather Data from a Public API in Python

Python code

Output

How it works

Common mistakes

Variations

Real-world use cases

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