EPA AirNow MCP Server for Windsurf 3 tools — connect in under 2 minutes
Windsurf brings agentic AI coding to a purpose-built IDE. Connect EPA AirNow through the Vinkius and Cascade will auto-discover every tool — ask questions, generate code, and act on live data without leaving your editor.
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Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.
Vinkius Desktop App
The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install EPA AirNow and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.




{
"mcpServers": {
"epa-airnow": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}
* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure
About EPA AirNow MCP Server
The EPA AirNow MCP Server connects your AI agent to the beating heart of environmental tracking. Gather deep insights into regional air safety, allowing proactive mitigation of respiratory risks and wildfire smoke exposure.
Windsurf's Cascade agent chains multiple EPA AirNow tool calls autonomously — query data, analyze results, and generate code in a single agentic session. Paste the Vinkius Edge URL, reload, and all 3 tools are immediately available. Real-time tool feedback appears inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor.
Core Capabilities
- Real-Time AQI Observations — Instantly check current pollutant levels (Ozone, PM2.5, PM10) to determine if the local air is safe to breathe today.
- Regional Forecasts — Look ahead to anticipate upcoming hazardous environmental conditions, enabling dynamic safety planning for events or communities.
- Flexible Targeting — Pinpoint any community instantly using standard postal codes or exact geographic coordinates to get a tight observation radius.
The EPA AirNow MCP Server exposes 3 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Windsurf in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.
How to Connect EPA AirNow to Windsurf via MCP
Follow these steps to integrate the EPA AirNow MCP Server with Windsurf.
Open MCP Settings
Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"
Add the server
Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json
Save and reload
Windsurf will detect the new server automatically
Start using EPA AirNow
Open Cascade and ask: "Using EPA AirNow, help me..." — 3 tools available
Why Use Windsurf with the EPA AirNow MCP Server
Windsurf provides unique advantages when paired with EPA AirNow through the Model Context Protocol.
Windsurf's Cascade agent autonomously chains multiple tool calls in sequence, solving complex multi-step tasks without manual intervention
Purpose-built for agentic workflows — Cascade understands context across your entire codebase and integrates MCP tools natively
JSON-based configuration means zero code changes: paste a URL, reload, and all 3 tools are immediately available
Real-time tool feedback is displayed inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor without switching contexts
EPA AirNow + Windsurf Use Cases
Practical scenarios where Windsurf combined with the EPA AirNow MCP Server delivers measurable value.
Automated code generation: ask Cascade to fetch data from EPA AirNow and generate models, types, or handlers based on real API responses
Live debugging: query EPA AirNow tools mid-session to inspect production data while debugging without leaving the editor
Documentation generation: pull schema information from EPA AirNow and have Cascade generate comprehensive API docs automatically
Rapid prototyping: combine EPA AirNow data with Cascade's code generation to scaffold entire features in minutes
EPA AirNow MCP Tools for Windsurf (3)
These 3 tools become available when you connect EPA AirNow to Windsurf via MCP:
get_current_aqi_by_latlon
Get real-time Air Quality Index observation using geographic coordinates
get_current_aqi_by_zip
Requires a 5-digit US ZIP Code. Get current real-time Air Quality Index observation using a US ZIP code
get_forecast_aqi_by_zip
Get future AQI forecasts for a given US ZIP code
Example Prompts for EPA AirNow in Windsurf
Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Windsurf agent to start working with EPA AirNow immediately.
"What is the current air quality index in Beverly Hills?"
"Will the air quality be safe for a marathon in Seattle tomorrow?"
"Fetch the PM10 specific metrics for ZIP code 90210 safely via AirNow."
Troubleshooting EPA AirNow MCP Server with Windsurf
Common issues when connecting EPA AirNow to Windsurf through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.
Server not connecting
EPA AirNow + Windsurf FAQ
Common questions about integrating EPA AirNow MCP Server with Windsurf.
How does Windsurf discover MCP tools?
mcp_config.json file on startup and connects to each configured server via Streamable HTTP. Tools are listed in the MCP panel and available to Cascade automatically.Can Cascade chain multiple MCP tool calls?
Does Windsurf support multiple MCP servers?
mcp_config.json. Each server's tools appear in the MCP panel and Cascade can use tools from different servers in a single flow.Connect EPA AirNow with your favorite client
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Connect EPA AirNow to Windsurf
Get your token, paste the configuration, and start using 3 tools in under 2 minutes. No API key management needed.
