How to Use the EPA AirNow MCP in Claude Code

Q: How do I install the EPA AirNow MCP server in Claude Code?

Run claude mcp add --transport http epa-airnow-mcp -- in your terminal. Make sure you put all flags before the server name. Verify the connection by typing claude mcp list.

Pull live EPA AirNow metrics into your terminal with Claude Code and this MCP server. Automate environmental alerts without leaving the command line.

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Connect EPA AirNow MCP to Claude Code

Create your Vinkius account to connect EPA AirNow to Claude Code and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup EPA AirNow with Claude Code

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Fetch Live AQI Data via Claude Code

Calling `get_current_aqi_by_zip` pulls the exact real-time Air Quality Index for any 5-digit US ZIP code straight into your terminal session. You hand your agent the code, and it hits the federal endpoints. Nobody wants to open a browser tab to click around clunky government dashboards. Just raw observation data returned as plain text or JSON, ready for whatever shell script you are building. We built this MCP server for developers who need environmental triggers in their infrastructure. Spikes over 150 AQI in a specific region can automatically fire off warnings to your team. It gives you the baseline metrics required to make fast, automated decisions during localized smoke events or chemical spills.

Predict Spikes with the EPA AirNow MCP Server

The `get_forecast_aqi_by_zip` tool grabs upcoming air quality predictions directly from federal sensors. Your AI client queries the timeline, returning categorical risk levels for the next few days. You get the raw forecast numbers before the local news even finishes rendering their weather graphics. Hooking this up to a cron job means you catch bad air days early. A simple daily script checks the forecast and pushes a Slack alert if tomorrow's particulate matter looks dangerous. That buys you time to shut down outdoor events, adjust HVAC intakes, or tell your remote workers to keep their windows closed.

Pinpoint Micro-Climates by Coordinates

Using `get_current_aqi_by_latlon` drops a pin anywhere on the map to fetch the nearest reference-grade sensor readings. ZIP codes cover massive areas, which means a fire on the east side of town might not register if the official ZIP centroid is miles away. Passing exact latitude and longitude gives your agent the precision needed for hyper-local health warnings. Fleet managers and logistics teams use this to route drivers around hazardous zones. You feed a list of delivery coordinates to Claude Code, and it cross-references the live AQI for every single stop. Catching a toxic smoke plume over a specific intersection happens instantly.

Setup guide

Set up EPA AirNow MCP in Claude Code

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Run the add command

Open your terminal and run the command shown on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. Use --scope user to make it available across all projects.
2

Verify the connection

Start a Claude Code session and type /mcp to list connected servers. You should see epa-airnow-mcp with a green status indicator.
3

Start using tools

Ask Claude Code something like "Check my latest EPA AirNow transactions." It will automatically discover and invoke the available EPA AirNow tools.

Terminal

claude mcp add --transport http epa-airnow-mcp https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

Get your connection token →

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open the config file

Create or edit .mcp.json in your project root for project-level scope, or ~/.claude.json for user-level scope.
2

Add the EPA AirNow MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Code

Start a new Claude Code session. Type /mcp to confirm the server is connected. The tools will be automatically available in your conversation.

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "epa-airnow-mcp": {
      "type": "url",
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by EPA. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about EPA AirNow MCP in Claude Code

Run `claude mcp add --transport http epa-airnow-mcp -- ` in your terminal. Make sure you put all flags before the server name. Verify the connection by typing `claude mcp list`.

Yes. You can write a bash script that runs a headless query against the API. Crossing your defined AQI threshold tells the script to pipe that output into your alerting system.

No. Every time you ask for a forecast, the agent hits the live federal endpoints. You always get the latest available predictions directly from the source.

The tools return empty data or an error. These sensors only cover North America. You need a valid 5-digit US ZIP code for the queries to work.

The only data transmitted is the 5-digit ZIP code or the specific latitude and longitude coordinates you request. Vinkius runs this MCP server inside a V8 Isolate Sandbox, meaning the memory state is wiped the second the query finishes. Your geographic inputs are never stored, logged, or used to train models.

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