The Motorcycle Weather Index scores every U.S. city 1–10 for riding conditions — rain chance, wind, temperature, humidity, and visibility scored and weighted for what actually keeps riders off the road.
Building a riding app or managing a dealership network?
Our API delivers these scores for 37,000+ cities via a daily JSON feed — no weather parsing required.
Search any U.S. city for its riding score on the selected day
How the Motorcycle Weather Index Works
The Motorcycle Weather Index scores each U.S. city from 1 to 10 using National Weather Service NDFD forecast data
at 2.5km resolution, updated every morning. Six weather factors are scored individually and combined into a single
composite number that reflects what conditions actually feel like for a casual weekend rider. Rain probability
carries triple weight and wind carries double weight — the two factors most likely to cancel a ride entirely.
⛈️ Rain Chance (3× weight)Penalty starts at 10% probability. Even a 30% chance is meaningful on a motorcycle. Carries triple weight — the #1 reason casual riders stay home.
💨 Wind (2× weight)Score 10 up to 10 mph. Crosswinds above 20 mph create serious handling hazards, especially on open highways and bridges. Score 1 at 30+ mph.
🌡️ TemperatureSweet spot 80–85°F with gear. Hard floor at 40°F — cold impairs rider dexterity and road grip. Hot side penalized more gradually.
💦 HumidityHigh dewpoint is uncomfortable in riding gear and contributes to visor fogging. Low dewpoint scores best.
🌧️ PrecipitationWet roads on a motorcycle are a safety hazard, not just a nuisance. Steeper penalty curve than other activity indexes. Scored on days 1–3 only.
🌫️ VisibilityWorst visibility of the day used — a single foggy hour matters. Score 1 below 0.5 miles. Clear above 7 miles scores 10. Days 1–3 only.
A score of 10 means near-perfect riding conditions.
A score of 1 means conditions are dangerous or highly unpleasant — too wet, too windy, or too cold for a casual ride.
The index covers the contiguous United States with 37,000+ city data points.
