Weather just got smarter! Hyperlocal forecasting is a tricky and important pursuit for industries and organizations around the world. As weather patterns grow more unpredictable and extreme, the demand for more accurate, real-time weather intelligence is greater than ever. Sudden storms or unexpected conditions disrupt commerce, delay transportation, and have wide-reaching economic impacts.

In April we announced the Weather API in Preview, and we’re excited to share that the Weather API is now Generally Available, powered by MetNet, our cutting-edge AI weather model that delivers improved next-12-hour precipitation forecasts and current weather condition predictions.

Thanks to MetNet, users can make better-informed decisions about their day, whether it’s what to pack, how to commute, or how to stay safe in extreme weather. The Weather API seamlessly integrates these insights into your applications, so you can:

• Optimize logistics: Businesses that depend on delivery schedules can now anticipate weather disruptions and adjust routes in real time.

• Enhance customer communication: Travel services can proactively inform customers about current conditions, helping them prepare for local conditions.

• Adapt with agility: Mobility companies can scale driver availability based on real-time weather data, ensuring smoother operations.

Check out our demo here.

We are excited to announce that Address Validation is now available in Preview in the Maps JavaScript API beta channel! The Address Validation Web Service API was launched in 2022, and now JavaScript developers can accurately verify user-provided addresses and reduce delivery failures for their customers.

• What’s included in this Preview launch?

• Address Verification: The AddressValidation.fetchAddressValidation() static method accepts an address and provides a verdict regarding its completeness and quality.

• Address Formatting and Completion: The address is returned in a format appropriate to the address’s region and with inferred corrections made to misspelled, incorrect, or missing parts.

• Place Autocomplete Integration: Built-in session token management for fetchAddressValidation requests sent from PlacePrediction objects.

Learn More 

• Address Validation Overview | Maps JavaScript API | Google for Developers 

• Address Validation JS reference documentation

We’ve been hard at work tackling route “warps” that occur in polylines returned by Route Optimization APIs. We’re proud to report you should now be experiencing smoother routes (~80% reduction in total warp distance) and more accurate ETAs.

What is a route “warp”?

A route “warp” is a phenomenon observed in polylines for a multi-stop route when there is a gap in the polylines at a mid-route stop due to the navigation arrival location for the stop being at some distance from the navigation departure location for the stop.

“Warp” at location B in a multi-stop route polylines A →  B → C

How do route warps affect route quality? 

Route warps adversely affect routes as drivers/pedestrians are expected to “jump” from the arrival location for a stop, to the departure location from the stop, without navigation instructions. This jump is allocated to take zero duration which reduces the accuracy of ETAs and consequently the feasibility of the route. 

Why did Route Optimization routes contain warps? 

To create a multi-stop route, Route Optimization stitches together multiple independent two-stop routes from PathFinder to form a larger route as opposed to directly relying on multi-stop routes from PathFinder. The reason for this implementation choice is better API performance during optimization. A side effect of this choice is that the routes may contain warps. 

How did Route Optimization mitigate route warps? 

To mitigate warps in routes, Route Optimization now pre-processes user locations to suitable navigable points before passing the locations to PathFinder.

Before & After: Reducing warps at route stops

Before & After: Reducing warps at route stops

In celebration of Google Maps Platforms 20th anniversary, we are excited to announce the Google Maps Platform Awards.

There’s still time to enter our Google Maps Platform 20th Awards program. In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Google Maps Platform we’re taking the opportunity to recognize the amazing work our developers, customers, and partners have done using the power and flexibility of Google Maps Platform. Let’s celebrate the innovative solutions built over the past 20 years.

Have you built something awesome with Google Maps Platform? We want to see it! Submit your work here. Submissions are open now through July 31!