Expected frequency of gridpoint forecast updates

[ktrue]

Do we expect to have the gridpoint forecasts in the API updated 4 times daily (like the forecast.weather.gov seems to have), or some different frequency?

My API forecast is currently returning a 2:18am forecast at 1:05pm and that seems odd with 'Overnight' icon hanging around.

[jah1007]

There is no definitive schedule for updates. API and forecast.weather.gov have differing methodologies for handling of forecast data. What office are you seeing inconsistency from?

[ktrue]

The San Francisco/Monterey office (MTR).
https://api.weather.gov/gridpoints/MTR/94,80

[benswx]

I have also noticed the same from NWS San Diego-SGX.

[vic4news]

I am also seeing this behavior for GYX (Portland, ME)

[JJKraw]

And BOX (Boston/Norton, MA)

[StephenClouse]

Do we expect to have the gridpoint forecasts in the API updated 4 times daily (like the forecast.weather.gov seems to have), or some different frequency?

It's my understanding that offices are supposed to update forecasts at least twice a day, but I don't believe this is a hard requirement, especially when things are quiet.

My API forecast is currently returning a 2:18am forecast at 1:05pm and that seems odd with 'Overnight' icon hanging around.

This specific issue of old forecasts hanging around when they should have changed over to a new period is a separate bug that's currently on our board. We might get it into this month's release.

[babldev]

Thanks for clarifying @StephenClouse!

FWIW I've seen this API behavior change starting ~June 2025. The API was more real-time before then.

It makes sense to want to cache things and reduce server load, especially if the underlying forecast data is unchanged. It's just a different behavior than this API was originally so somewhat breaking. Especially given the inclusion of current time-relative labels like Tonight and Overnight.

[benswx]

Yes. It would be nice if it at least auto refreshed a few more times a day. So it doesn't display overnight until 2pm, then this afternoon until 2am.