Where can I get weather records for my claim?
Start with the incident date and the question you need to answer. Ask the recipient which records and format they need before paying for a document.
For a free starting point, use NOAA Climate Data Online for station records and the NCEI Storm Events Database for regional events. Public data can be useful on its own; paying for formatting does not make different records interchangeable.
What a useful weather report should include
- Location and local date. Identify the selected address, time zone, and where each record applies. A nearby station is context, not necessarily the source of a location-based compilation.
- Relevant values and time detail. Keep units, timestamps, and reporting intervals with wind, precipitation, and temperature. Gust differs from sustained wind; daily rain differs from an hourly amount. See the wind documentation guide.
- Warnings and regional events, when available. A warning describes a hazard for its stated area and period. A reported event elsewhere in a county does not establish conditions at your property. The hail documentation guide explains this distinction for hail.
- Sources, coverage, and retrieval date. Identify station observations, provider compilations, warning bulletins, and preliminary or published regional records separately. Preserve missing fields as missing. Later corrections or archive publications can change a new search.
StormRecord's hourly values come from a Visual Crossing location-based compilation using NOAA and other weather networks. It can combine multiple stations and other sources. Available NWS bulletins and regional storm records provide separate context. The nearby station shown in a report is not necessarily its exclusive data source. Read the source methodology and preview coverage before purchasing.
Worked example · published sample
Tampa: one local day, different kinds of records
The selected location is 315 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, Florida (City Hall), for October 9, 2024, in EDT. This example uses the sample generated September 11, 2026. It is not your search result or an example of a successful insurance claim.
| Record and source | Time and geographic scope | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| 86.6 mph peak gust Visual Crossing compilation PDF, page 3 | October 9, 10 PM EDT hourly timestamp, for the selected location. | The largest gust in this returned day's weather record. It is not a direct measurement at City Hall or proof of a building's wind exposure. |
| Hurricane (Typhoon), R01 NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database PDF, page 38 | October 9, 11 AM through October 10, 8 AM EDT. Hillsborough regional record; source label: Official NWS Observations. | A regional event period extending into the next day. Its reported-value field is “Not supplied”; it supplies no property-specific wind measurement. |
What this supports: a clear account of a returned hourly gust value and a separately documented regional hurricane period. What it does not establish: when damage occurred, its cause, whether water entered a building, or whether a policy covers the loss.
Keep the hourly timestamp separate from the regional event period. Neither is the full duration of Hurricane Milton. For warning bulletins, charts, and source notes, see how to read the Tampa report or open the full sample PDF.
Link to this example · Sample source notes: PDF, page 39.
If precipitation timing matters, the historical rainfall lookup guide explains which totals to compare and what source details to keep.
What to send with the weather report
Keep the weather file with the property-specific evidence. Use this checklist to organize the information the recipient requests:
- Incident timeline: the address, known event time, and when damage was first noticed, recorded separately.
- Photographs and inspection findings: preserve original files and identify where and when they were taken.
- Repair documentation: keep estimates, invoices, and receipts for temporary repairs with related correspondence.
- The complete weather record: retain the original file, source, station or area, time zone, units, retrieval date, and coverage notes.
NAIC's post-storm guidance recommends documenting losses and retaining receipts. Contact your insurer about its reporting requirements; do not wait for a weather report to ask how to start a claim.
Questions
Do I need a weather report for an insurance claim?
Not always. Ask your adjuster or other recipient what they need and whether they already have suitable records. See how weather records fit into claim verification.
What is the best weather report for my claim?
Choose the source and time detail that answer the requested question. Check its location, units, missing fields, and coverage. If government certification or expert interpretation is required, obtain that specific deliverable.
Can I use a free weather app or government record?
A free service or public archive may provide useful information. Ask the recipient about format and source requirements. Use the free NOAA records walkthrough to select a dataset and retrieve records yourself.
How much does an insurance-claim weather report cost?
Public archives offer free records. StormRecord has a free preview and an optional $9.99 PDF for one U.S. address and one local calendar date, for ordinary or severe weather. Certification and expert analysis are separate services. See the cost comparison.
Should I get the report before or after filing?
Follow the recipient’s instructions for when and how to provide documentation. Keep your incident date and available records organized, and ask about reporting deadlines directly.
Can a weather report prove my insurance claim?
It provides weather documentation, not a determination of causation, coverage, liability, or acceptance. Photographs, inspections, policy terms, and other evidence answer different questions. This guide is general information, not insurance or legal advice.