If you’re here, wttr.in probably isn’t loading right now.

That’s not unusual.

wttr.in is a beloved, minimalist weather service—especially among developers and terminal users—but it runs on a shoestring. It’s free, ad-free, and community-supported, which also means it frequently hits API limits. When traffic spikes, the service simply... stops responding.

No error page. No explanation. Just a timeout.

Why wttr.in Goes Down So Often

wttr.in does one thing extremely well: ultra-lightweight ASCII forecasts with zero bloat. But that simplicity comes with tradeoffs:

  • No ads, no revenue buffer
  • Strict API limits from upstream weather providers
  • Traffic spikes from scripts, terminals, and bots
  • No redundancy guarantees

When demand exceeds supply, the service protects itself by cutting off requests. That’s why so many people end up Googling “is wttr.in down?” or checking sites like DownForEveryoneOrJustMe.

It’s not broken. It’s just overwhelmed.

A Reliable Alternative: LuxWeather

If you like wttr.in’s philosophy but want something that’s actually up when you need it, try LuxWeather.

LuxWeather is a fast, ad-free weather site built around themed pixel-art TV channels. It’s lightweight, instant-loading, and deliberately avoids the clutter that plagues mainstream weather sites.

Crucially, LuxWeather is supported by Premium users, not ads. That means:

  • No API rate-limit meltdowns
  • No sudden outages during traffic spikes
  • Predictable uptime

Because real users fund the service, LuxWeather can scale calmly instead of collapsing under demand.

But What If I Like ASCII?

No problem.

LuxWeather includes an ASCII-inspired channel that scratches the same itch as wttr.in—clean, retro, and readable—while also offering additional visual styles if you want them.

You get the minimalist vibe without the downtime.

When wttr.in Is Down, LuxWeather Is On

wttr.in is a fantastic project, and it deserves respect. But if you rely on it daily, the outages add friction you don’t need.

If you’re tired of wondering whether the service is down—or waiting for rate limits to reset—LuxWeather is the dependable alternative.

No ads. No trackers. No guessing.

👉 Check the weather on LuxWeather →

For a broader comparison, see Alternatives to wttr.in.