# NOAA Tides & Currents MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect

> NOAA Tides & Currents API. Monitor tidal data, audit water levels, and pull coastal predictions via your AI agent. This Connector gives your agent direct access to real-time oceanographic data from the US coast without you having to navigate complex government portals.

## Overview
- **Category:** industry-titans
- **Price:** Free
- **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_j43wFvI03r3JYScuLizlD97RP3wpgyK3XsNXZdby/ai-agent-connect
- **Tags:** oceanography, tidal-data, water-levels, maritime-research, environmental-monitoring

## Description

Imagine you're trying to coordinate a shipping schedule or map out a coastal research site. Usually, that means digging through government websites, hunting for specific station IDs, and copying data into spreadsheets. This Connector changes that. It lets your agent do the heavy lifting by pulling real-time water levels, tide predictions, and temperature metadata instantly. Instead of searching for a specific station, you just tell your agent what you need, and it handles the query. It's a huge time-saver for anyone who needs precise maritime data without the manual overhead. You'll find this Connector in the Vinkius catalog, where it sits alongside other high-quality data connectors to help you build a more capable research or logistics workflow. Whether you're checking the current water temperature in Boston or planning a high-tide operation in San Francisco, your agent provides the facts you need in a single conversation.

## Tools

### check_api_status
Check if the NOAA service is up. It ensures your data workflow won't hit a wall.

### get_air_temperature
Get current air temperature for a specific station. Use this for regional environmental planning.

### get_tide_predictions
Get high and low tide predictions. It helps you understand the timing of maritime scale changes.

### get_water_levels
Get real-time water levels. This is essential for monitoring coastal changes and harbor depths.

### get_water_temperature
Get real-time water temperature. Use this to monitor oceanographic conditions in specific areas.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
What's the tide looking like in San Francisco for tomorrow?
```

**Response:** 
```
I've pulled the tide predictions for San Francisco. Here is the schedule for tomorrow:

| Time | Tide Type | Height |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 10:30 AM | High Tide | 5.2 ft |
| 04:45 PM | Low Tide | 0.5 ft |

Would you like me to check the current water level for this station as well?
```

**Prompt:** 
```
What's the water temp in Boston right now?
```

**Response:** 
```
I've checked the sensors for Boston. The water temperature is currently **52°F**. I can also provide the air temperature if that helps your planning.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Give me the water level for Los Angeles station 9410660.
```

**Response:** 
```
The real-time water level for Los Angeles station 9410660 is currently **3.2 ft** above MLLW. Let me know if you need any other station data.
```

## Capabilities

### Pull real-time water levels
Get current coastal water depths for specific NOAA stations instantly.

### Get tide predictions
Retrieve high and low tide forecasts to plan maritime movements.

### Retrieve temperature metadata
Fetch real-time air and water temperatures for environmental checks.

### Fetch station details
Get high-resolution details for specific NOAA station IDs.

### Verify service status
Check if the NOAA Tides & Currents service is operational.

## Use Cases

### Shipping Logistics
A logistics planner asks for tide predictions in San Francisco to see if a ship can dock safely during a specific window.

### Environmental Research
A researcher wants to compare water temperatures in Boston over several days to identify seasonal trends.

### Harbor Management
A harbor master checks real-time water levels for a specific station to manage incoming vessel traffic.

### Coastal Planning
A city planner asks for air temperature metadata to help assess regional environmental impacts.

## Benefits

- Stop manual searching. Use get_water_levels to pull current coastal data instantly instead of clicking through government portals.
- Plan with precision. Use get_tide_predictions to see high and low tide windows for safe maritime operations.
- Monitor environments. Use get_air_temperature and get_water_temperature to get a full picture of coastal conditions.
- Verify station data. Use get_water_levels to audit specific coastal changes against your expected research parameters.
- Ensure uptime. Use check_api_status to make sure your automated research workflows won't break due to service outages.

## How It Works

The bottom line is you get instant access to authoritative US coastal data through a simple chat interface.

1. Subscribe to the NOAA Tides & Currents MCP on Vinkius.
2. Connect the Connector to your preferred AI client like Claude or Cursor.
3. Ask your agent for specific tidal data or water levels using natural language.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I use NOAA Tides & Currents for my boat's navigation?**
Yes, it provides real-time water levels and tide predictions that are essential for safe navigation and docking.

**Does this Connector provide data for stations outside the US?**
This Connector specifically connects to NOAA's CO-OPS system, which covers United States coastal data.

**How does this help with maritime logistics planning?**
It allows you to quickly check harbor depths and tide windows to coordinate ship arrivals and departures without manual searching.

**Can my agent check water temperatures for research?**
Yes, your agent can pull real-time water and air temperatures for specific stations to help with environmental studies.

**Is there a cost to using the NOAA data through this Connector?**
The underlying NOAA CO-OPS service is free and open, so you can access the data directly through this Connector.

**Can I get high and low tide predictions for a specific date?**
Yes, your agent can query the system for tide predictions on specific dates to help you plan future maritime operations.

**Is an API Key required for NOAA Tides API?**
No. The NOAA CO-OPS API is a free and open service provided by the United States government. This server works out of the box without any static credentials required.

**Can the agent show air temperature at stations?**
Yes. Use the `get_air_temperature` tool providing a station ID. Your agent will return real-time temperature metadata alongside the timestamp.

**What data datum is used for predictions?**
This server uses the Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) datum for all water level and tide prediction requests to maintain consistency with nautical charts.