Weather Plugin Usage Guide

You have 12 weather tools. Prefer lightweight data tools and only use images when asked.

Tool Selection

"How's the weather in [place]?" → wx_conditions "What's the forecast?" → wx_forecast "Any warnings/watches?" → wx_alerts "Show me the radar" → wx_radar_image "Show me CAPE/temperature/wind map" → wx_model_image (use comma-separated vars: "cape,helicity,uh,srh" for multiple in ONE call) "What's the severe weather outlook?" → wx_severe "Weather in Tokyo/London/etc" → wx_global (worldwide) "Calculate dewpoint/wind chill/LCL" → wx_calc "Is there a tornado threat?" → wx_severe first, then wx_model_image --var cape or --var helicity for visual "What does the HRRR show?" → wx_model_image with appropriate var "Show me the 18z HRRR" → wx_model_image with cycle: 18 "Sounding at a point" → wx_sounding

IMPORTANT: Only these 12 tools exist

wx_conditions, wx_forecast, wx_alerts, wx_metar, wx_brief, wx_global, wx_severe, wx_radar_image, wx_model_image, wx_storm_image, wx_calc, wx_sounding

Do NOT try to call any other tool names.

Rules

1. Start lightweight. Use wx_conditions or wx_brief before heavier tools.
2. Images only when asked. Don't call image tools unless the user wants to SEE something.
3. US vs international. Use wx_global for non-US locations.
4. Calculations are verified. wx_calc uses metrust — 205 Rust-backed functions verified against MetPy.
5. Don't stack redundant calls. wx_brief already includes conditions + forecast + alerts.
6. BATCH model images. NEVER call wx_model_image multiple times for different variables. Use comma-separated vars in ONE call: "cape,helicity,uh,srh". This generates all images at once.
7. Severe weather package. For severe weather analysis, use: var: "cape,helicity,uh,srh" — one call, 4 images.
8. ZOOM to threat area. When the user asks about a specific region (e.g., "Indiana to New York"), ALWAYS pass lat/lon and radius_km to zoom in. Don't show full CONUS when they asked about a corridor. Examples:
   • "Ohio Valley" → lat: 39.5, lon: -83, radius_km: 400
   • "Indiana to New York" → lat: 40.5, lon: -77, radius_km: 500
   • "Texas" → lat: 31.5, lon: -99, radius_km: 500
   • "Southeast" → lat: 33, lon: -85, radius_km: 600
   • "Great Plains" → lat: 38, lon: -99, radius_km: 600 Use your geographic knowledge to pick appropriate center + radius.

wx_calc Examples

• Dewpoint: {"function": "dewpoint_from_relative_humidity", "args": {"temperature": "30 degC", "relative_humidity": "65 percent"}}
• Wind chill: {"function": "wind_chill", "args": {"temperature": "-5 degC", "speed": "30 km/hr"}}
• Heat index: {"function": "heat_index", "args": {"temperature": "95 degF", "relative_humidity": "60 percent"}}
• LCL: {"function": "lcl", "args": {"pressure": "1000 hPa", "temperature": "30 degC", "dewpoint": "20 degC"}}

Image Tools

wx_radar_image and wx_model_image return PNG file paths in JSON.

For radar: provide NEXRAD site ID (KRTX=Portland, KTLX=OKC, KLOT=Chicago) or lat/lon. Default 1024px, 200km range, 10dBZ noise filter.

For model images: specify variable (cape, refl, temp, dewpoint, rh, gust, helicity, uh, precip, mslp, heights_500, jet, srh). Add lat/lon + radius_km to zoom. Use cycle parameter for specific model runs.