Misaligned Data Between /forecast/hourly and the "raw" data

[jeffclark]

I'm looking for forecast data by the hour, but am getting conflicting information between the raw data at gridpoints/CWA/gridX,gridY/ and the hourly forecast generated at gridpoints/CWA/gridX,gridY/forecast/hourly

Examples from 12:00:00 2-July
The temperature at: https://api.weather.gov/gridpoints/BOX/81,72
Returns:
{ "validTime": "2020-07-02T12:00:00+00:00/PT1H", "value": 18.333333333333332 }
(Converting to F is 65)

For the same time period, the temperature at: https://api.weather.gov/gridpoints/BOX/81,72/forecast/hourly
Returns: 74

(Sitting outside, it's definitely closer to 74 than 65!)

The skycover data at https://api.weather.gov/gridpoints/BOX/81,72
Returns:
{ "validTime": "2020-07-02T12:00:00+00:00/PT1H", "value": 74}
Which I believe means that there is 74% cloud coverage.

For the same time period, the shortForecast at: https://api.weather.gov/gridpoints/BOX/81,72/forecast/hourly
Returns: Sunny

(Sitting outside, it's certainly sunny and not 74% cloud cover! A single small cloud in the sky!)

Am I misinterpreting the "raw" data incorrectly? Should I expect these two data points align with each other?

[StephenClouse]

I think you are missing the difference in time zone offset.

The raw data is in UTC (+00:00).

The forecasts are in local time (EDT -04:00 in this case).

2020-07-02T12:00:00+00:00 and 2020-07-02T08:00:00-04:00 are the same time instant.

So if you are, as I suspect, looking at this period in the hourly forecast data:

{ "number": 2, "name": "", "startTime": "2020-07-02T12:00:00-04:00", "endTime": "2020-07-02T13:00:00-04:00", "isDaytime": true, "temperature": 74, "temperatureUnit": "F", "temperatureTrend": null, "windSpeed": "5 mph", "windDirection": "S", "icon": "http://localhost/icons/land/day/few?size=small", "shortForecast": "Sunny", "detailedForecast": "" },

Then in the grid you should be looking for data corresponding to time 2020-07-02T16:00:00+00:00.

I think you will find these data align properly.

temperature: { "validTime": "2020-07-02T16:00:00+00:00/PT3H", "value": 23.333333333333332 },

skyCover: { "validTime": "2020-07-02T15:00:00+00:00/PT4H", "value": 22 },

[jeffclark]

@StephenClouse Ouch, good eye. That's embarrassing. Thanks for the help!

[StephenClouse]

@jeffclark Don't worry, you're not the first :)