Common questions about StormSync, NWWS-OI, and getting up and running. Currently partially outdated, expect update soon.
NWWS-OI (NOAA Weather Wire Service — Open Interface) is an authenticated XMPP feed run by the National Weather Service. It carries every NWS text product in real time — the same data stream used by TV stations and emergency management agencies.
Send an email to NWWS.Issue@noaa.gov. Credentials are free and usually come back within 10–30 days.
Yes — they're two separate things. The StormSync key unlocks the download. Your NWWS-OI credentials go into config/config.yaml to connect the app to the live data feed.
Email contact@stormsyncapp.com. Keys are free and typically sent out within 24–48 hours.
No — StormSync is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with NOAA, the NWS, or any government agency.
Python 3.10 or newer from python.org — make sure to check "Add Python to PATH" during install. After that, install.bat takes care of the rest.
Try running .venv\Scripts\activate followed by pip install -r requirements.txt manually. If you're still stuck, email contact@stormsyncapp.com and include your log file.
Open config/config.yaml and enter your username and password under the xmpp section.
Windows only for now. Mac and Linux are both on the plan — check the Roadmap for details.
NWWS-OI gets alerts to you within seconds of issuance. The public REST API typically adds 60–120 seconds of delay. Mobile push notifications can be 3–10 minutes behind.
Double-check your credentials in config/config.yaml and look through nwws_monitor.log for errors. If the weather is quiet, that's also normal — very few products get issued during calm periods.
No. Everything is stored locally in SQLite on your machine. Nothing is shared with us or anyone else.
It's a 1–115 priority score used to sort alerts and trigger audio at the right level. Tornado Emergency sits at 115. This is a StormSync-internal scale — it has no official meaning with the NWS.
StormSync is provided as-is with no warranty. It's not a substitute for official systems — please don't rely on it alone for any life-safety decisions.