# NOAA SWPC Space Weather Scraper (`parseforge/noaa-swpc-space-weather-scraper`) Actor

Scrapes NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center products: Kp index, solar wind, GOES X-ray flux, alerts, and sunspot numbers. Returns each record as a flat row.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/noaa-swpc-space-weather-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, Other
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $6.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner.jpg)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### NOAA SWPC Space Weather Scraper

**Scrape NOAA space weather data: Kp index, solar wind, X-ray flux, alerts, and sunspot numbers.** Each record is a clean row with the latest measurements, ready for CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML. No API key or login.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center publishes geomagnetic, solar, and radio data that is scattered across several pages and formats. This Actor reads the public product feeds directly and returns each measurement as one flat row, so you can track space weather without building your own parser.

| Who uses it | What they scrape NOAA SWPC for |
|---|---|
| Amateur radio operators | Check current HF radio propagation conditions before a contest or net |
| Aurora chasers | Monitor the Kp index to decide when to head out and photograph the northern lights |
| Researchers | Build a time series of solar wind or X-ray flux for analysis |
| Space weather enthusiasts | Archive alerts and sunspot numbers for personal study |

### What it does

This Actor collects NOAA SWPC space weather products, including the planetary Kp index, solar wind parameters, GOES X-ray flux, alerts, and sunspot numbers, and returns each record as a flat row.

- 🛰️ **Five products, one scraper:** Kp index, solar wind, GOES X-ray flux, alerts, and sunspot numbers.
- 📈 **Newest first:** records are returned in reverse chronological order, so the latest measurement is always on top.
- 🔢 **Set your own limit:** collect from 1 up to 1,000,000 records per run.
- 📄 **Fixed schema:** every product returns a consistent set of fields, ready for export.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with NOAA SWPC data

**📻 Check HF radio propagation.**

An amateur radio operator runs the Actor for the Kp index and X-ray flux before a contest to decide which bands are open.

**🌌 Plan an aurora hunt.**

An aurora chaser collects the latest Kp index and solar wind data to see if a geomagnetic storm is building.

**📊 Build a research dataset.**

A space weather researcher scrapes sunspot numbers and solar wind parameters over several months for a statistical study.

**🚨 Monitor alerts.**

A ham radio club runs the Actor daily to archive NOAA space weather alerts and warnings for their members.

### Why choose this scraper

| | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No API key** | Reads the public NOAA SWPC feeds directly, no registration or token |
| **Clean rows** | Each product returns a flat, predictable schema for easy export |
| **Up to a million records** | Collect long time series for research or archiving |
| **Multiple products** | One Actor covers geomagnetic, solar wind, X-ray, alerts, and sunspots |

### How it compares

This Actor focuses on raw NOAA SWPC product data, while the competitor provides a single computed snapshot for aurora and radio blackout.

| Feature | ParseForge | Space Weather Alert - Aurora Visibility & HF Radio Blackout |
|---|---|---|
| Planetary Kp index | Yes | Yes |
| Solar wind parameters | Yes | Not listed |
| GOES X-ray flux | Yes | Yes |
| Space weather alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Sunspot numbers | Yes | Not listed |
| Computed aurora-visible latitude | Not listed | Yes |
| HF radio blackout severity | Not listed | Yes |

### Configure the run

Pick the NOAA SWPC product you want, set a maximum number of records, and the Actor returns the newest measurements first. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
 "maxItems": 10
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
 "maxItems": 200
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.008 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $0.80 |
| 1,000 results | $8.00 |
| 10,000 results | $80.00 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [NOAA SWPC Space Weather Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/noaa-swpc-space-weather-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to NOAA SWPC through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=parseforge/noaa-swpc-space-weather-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check that you selected a valid product and set maxItems to at least 1. If the NOAA SWPC feed is temporarily unavailable, try again later.

**The data looks different from the NOAA website.**

The Actor returns the raw values from the feed. Some products may have a delay of a few minutes. Compare timestamps to ensure you are looking at the same interval.

**Can I get more than 1,000,000 records?**

The maximum is 1,000,000 per run. If you need more, run the Actor multiple times with different date ranges or use the Apify API to paginate.

**The run failed with an error.**

Check the Actor log for details. Common causes are network issues or an invalid product selection. Retry the run or contact support.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the Kp index? | The planetary Kp index measures global geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 to 9. Higher values mean stronger geomagnetic storms, which can affect radio propagation and aurora visibility. |
| Which NOAA SWPC products can I scrape? | You can scrape the planetary Kp index, solar wind parameters, GOES X-ray flux, space weather alerts and warnings, and sunspot numbers. |
| Do I need an API key? | No. The Actor reads the public NOAA SWPC data feeds directly, so no registration or API key is required. |
| How many records can I get per run? | You can set the maximum records from 1 to 1,000,000. The newest records are returned first. |
| What format is the data returned in? | Each record is a flat row with fields specific to the product you selected. You can export the dataset as CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML. |
| How often is the data updated? | The Actor reads the live NOAA SWPC feeds at the time of the run, so you get the latest available measurements. |
| Can I scrape historical data? | The Actor returns the most recent records up to your limit. For long historical archives, you may need to run it multiple times or use a different source. |
| What is solar wind data? | Solar wind data includes speed, density, and the interplanetary magnetic field components Bt and Bz, which are key for predicting geomagnetic activity. |
| What is GOES X-ray flux? | GOES X-ray flux measures solar X-ray output, which indicates solar flare activity. Flares can cause radio blackouts on Earth. |
| Can I get alerts and warnings? | Yes, select the 'Space Weather Alerts and Warnings' product to collect active NOAA SWPC alerts. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `product` (type: `string`):

Which NOAA SWPC product to collect. Each product returns its own clean set of fields.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

How many space weather records to collect per run.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "product": "kp-index",
  "maxItems": 10
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "maxItems": 10
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/noaa-swpc-space-weather-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "maxItems": 10 }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/noaa-swpc-space-weather-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "maxItems": 10
}' |
apify call parseforge/noaa-swpc-space-weather-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/noaa-swpc-space-weather-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/e053XUrKuD6oXA2W7/builds/SjoT8KnO9fRO9pJDz/openapi.json