# swiss-weather

> Check weather conditions across Swiss regions and worldwide locations. Use when the user asks about weather forecasts, snow conditions, temperature comparisons, or weather-dependent activity planning. Supports dynamic location lookup for any place worldwide.

- Author: nikhilpb
- Repository: nikhilpb/skills
- Version: 20260127021128
- Stars: 0
- Forks: 0
- Last Updated: 2026-02-06
- Source: https://github.com/nikhilpb/skills
- Web: https://mule.run/skillshub/@@nikhilpb/skills~swiss-weather:20260127021128

---

---
name: swiss-weather
description: Check weather conditions across Swiss regions and worldwide locations. Use when the user asks about weather forecasts, snow conditions, temperature comparisons, or weather-dependent activity planning. Supports dynamic location lookup for any place worldwide.
---

# Swiss Weather

Get current weather conditions and forecasts for Swiss regions and worldwide locations to help plan outdoor activities.

## Quick Start

The skill provides weather information via Open-Meteo. Use it to:
- Compare weather across multiple locations
- Get activity-specific forecasts (hiking, skiing, etc.)
- Check snow conditions and elevation-based weather
- Plan multi-day activities with extended forecasts
- **Query any location worldwide** via dynamic geocoding

**Quick Example - Find best hiking weather:**
```python
import sys
sys.path.append('swiss-weather/scripts')
from fetch_weather import get_activity_forecast

# Compare hiking conditions across multiple locations
for location in ["Ticino", "Valais", "Grisons"]:
    forecast = get_activity_forecast(location, activity="hiking", days=3)
    if 'error' not in forecast:
        print(f"{location}: {forecast['suitability']} - {forecast['summary']}")
```

## Usage Instructions

### 1. Basic Weather Lookup

For a simple weather check in a specific location:

```python
import sys
sys.path.append('swiss-weather/scripts')
from fetch_weather import get_current_weather

weather = get_current_weather("Zurich")

# Check for errors first
if 'error' in weather:
    print(f"Error: {weather['error']}")
else:
    # Available keys: temp, conditions, wind_speed, temp_high, temp_low, precipitation_today
    print(f"Temperature: {weather['temp']}°C")
    print(f"Conditions: {weather['conditions']}")
    print(f"Wind: {weather['wind_speed']} km/h")
    print(f"High/Low: {weather['temp_high']}/{weather['temp_low']}°C")
```

### 2. Regional Comparison

To compare weather across multiple locations (useful for deciding where to go):

```python
from compare_regions import compare_weather

# Use exact location names from the available locations list
locations = ["Zurich", "Bern", "Ticino", "Valais"]
comparison = compare_weather(locations)

for location, data in comparison.items():
    print(f"{location}: {data['temp']}°C, {data['conditions']}")
```

### 3. Activity-Specific Forecasts

Get weather forecasts tailored to specific activities:

```python
from fetch_weather import get_activity_forecast

# For hiking - use a valid location name from the Available Locations list
forecast = get_activity_forecast("Grisons", activity="hiking", days=3)

# Check for errors first
if 'error' in forecast:
    print(f"Error: {forecast['error']}")
else:
    print(f"Hiking conditions: {forecast['suitability']}")
    print(f"Outlook: {forecast['summary']}")

    # Show daily breakdown
    for day in forecast['daily_forecast']:
        print(f"{day['day_name']}: {day['suitability']} - {', '.join(day['reasons'])}")

# For skiing
forecast = get_activity_forecast("Valais", activity="skiing", days=3)
if 'error' not in forecast:
    print(f"Overall suitability: {forecast['suitability']}")
    for day in forecast['daily_forecast']:
        print(f"{day['day_name']}: {day['suitability']}")
```

### 4. Multi-Day Forecast

For planning activities over several days:

```python
from fetch_weather import get_extended_forecast

forecast = get_extended_forecast("Interlaken", days=5)
for day in forecast:
    print(f"{day['date']}: {day['temp_high']}/{day['temp_low']}°C - {day['conditions']}")
```

### 5. Snow Conditions

Get snow forecasts and avalanche bulletin links for mountain regions:

```python
from fetch_weather import get_snow_conditions

snow = get_snow_conditions("Zermatt")
print(f"7-day snowfall forecast: {snow['snowfall_forecast_7day']}")
print(f"Current temperature: {snow['current_temp']}°C")

# Access detailed avalanche and snow depth data
print(f"Avalanche bulletin: {snow['resources']['avalanche_bulletin']}")
print(f"Snow stations: {snow['resources']['snow_stations']}")
```

## Data Sources

The skill fetches real-time weather data from:

1. **Open-Meteo Weather API** - Primary weather data provider (free, no API key required)
   - Current conditions and forecasts (up to 14 days)
   - Temperature, precipitation, wind speed
   - Snowfall forecasts
   - WMO weather codes for conditions
   - Documentation: https://open-meteo.com/

2. **Open-Meteo Geocoding API** - Location name to coordinates conversion
   - Converts place names to latitude/longitude
   - Supports worldwide locations
   - Returns elevation, country, timezone
   - Results are cached locally (30-day TTL)
   - Documentation: https://open-meteo.com/en/docs/geocoding-api

3. **SLF (Snow and Avalanche Research)** - Reference links for detailed mountain data
   - Avalanche bulletins (linked, not fetched)
   - Snow depth measurements (linked, not fetched)
   - High-altitude conditions (linked, not fetched)
   - Users should check SLF directly for critical avalanche safety information

## Available Locations

### Dynamic Location Lookup

The skill now supports **any location worldwide** via dynamic geocoding. Simply provide a place name and the system will automatically look up its coordinates.

```python
# Query any location - not just predefined Swiss regions
weather = get_current_weather("Paris")        # Works!
weather = get_current_weather("New York")     # Works!
weather = get_current_weather("Chamonix")     # Works!
weather = get_current_weather("Mürren")       # Works! (small Swiss village)
```

**How it works:**
1. First checks the predefined Swiss regions (for rich metadata)
2. If not found, queries Open-Meteo Geocoding API
3. Swiss locations are prioritized when multiple matches exist
4. Results are cached locally to reduce API calls

### Predefined Swiss Locations

These locations have additional metadata (canton, region, weather characteristics):

**Cities & Towns:**
- **Zurich** - Central Plateau, 408m elevation
- **Bern** - Central Plateau, 542m elevation
- **Geneva** - Lake Geneva region, 375m elevation
- **Lausanne** - Lake Geneva region, 495m elevation
- **Basel** - Northwestern Switzerland, 260m elevation
- **Lucerne** - Central Switzerland, 435m elevation
- **Interlaken** - Bernese Oberland, 567m elevation
- **Lugano** - Ticino region, 273m elevation
- **St. Gallen** - Eastern Switzerland, 670m elevation
- **Appenzell** - Eastern Switzerland, 780m elevation
- **Neuchatel** - Jura foothills, 430m elevation

**Mountain Regions:**
- **Ticino** - Southern Switzerland, 276m elevation (Mediterranean climate)
- **Valais** - Alpine region, 1500m elevation (sunny, dry)
- **Zermatt** - High Alps, 1620m elevation (year-round mountain weather)
- **Grisons** - Eastern Alps, 1200m elevation (alpine continental)
- **Jura** - Jura Mountains, 1000m elevation (cooler, more precipitation)

**Note:** Location matching is case-insensitive and uses substring matching (e.g., "zurich" or "Zurich" both work).

## Weather Considerations for Activities

When planning activities, consider:

- **Hiking**: Temperature at elevation (drops ~0.6°C per 100m), precipitation, visibility
- **Stroller-friendly walks**: Avoid areas with recent rain (muddy trails), check wind
- **Mountain activities**: Afternoon thunderstorms common in summer, check avalanche bulletins in winter
- **Lake activities**: Morning calmest for water sports, afternoon winds on larger lakes

## Scripts Reference

- `fetch_weather.py` - Main weather functions:
  - `get_current_weather(location)` - Current conditions
  - `get_extended_forecast(location, days)` - Multi-day forecast
  - `get_activity_forecast(location, activity, days)` - Activity-specific forecasts
  - `get_snow_conditions(location)` - Snowfall forecasts and SLF links
- `geocode.py` - Location lookup functions:
  - `geocode(location, country_code=None)` - Convert place name to coordinates
  - `geocode_swiss(location)` - Geocode with Swiss priority
  - `clear_cache()` - Clear the geocoding cache
  - `get_cache_stats()` - View cache statistics
- `compare_regions.py` - Compare weather across multiple locations
- `data/swiss_regions.json` - Regional data with coordinates and characteristics
- `data/geocode_cache.json` - Cached geocoding results (auto-generated)

## Common Issues & Troubleshooting

### Location Not Found Error
If you get an error like `Location 'XYZ' not found`, ensure you're using one of the exact location names from the "Available Locations" section above. Common mistakes:
- ❌ "Bernese Oberland" → ✅ "Interlaken" (the main town in Bernese Oberland)
- ❌ "Central Switzerland" → ✅ "Lucerne" (the main city in Central Switzerland)
- ❌ "Zurich Region" → ✅ "Zurich"

### Checking for Errors
Always check if an error occurred before accessing weather data:
```python
weather = get_current_weather("SomeLocation")
if 'error' in weather:
    print(f"Error: {weather['error']}")
    return
# Now safe to access weather data
```

### Key Names Reference
- ✅ Use `weather['temp']` (not `weather['temperature']`)
- ✅ Use `weather['wind_speed']` (not `weather['wind']`)
- ✅ Use `weather['conditions']` for weather description

## Tips

- Weather can vary dramatically by elevation - always check conditions at your target altitude
- Ticino often has better weather when the north is cloudy (Föhn effect)
- Afternoon thunderstorms are common in mountains during summer
- For critical safety decisions (avalanche risk, severe weather warnings), always consult official sources:
  - MeteoSwiss: https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/
  - SLF Avalanche Bulletin: https://www.slf.ch/en/avalanche-bulletin-and-snow-situation.html
- For families with small children, check not just temperature but wind chill and sun exposure
- Open-Meteo provides reliable forecasts but is not an official meteorological service