diff --git a/rowers/weather.py b/rowers/weather.py
index d01d0fed..8f5ba3f5 100644
--- a/rowers/weather.py
+++ b/rowers/weather.py
@@ -45,7 +45,12 @@ def get_metar_data(airportcode,unixtime):
     url += str(unixtime+3600)
     url += "&stationString="+airportcode
 
-    s = requests.get(url)
+    try:
+        s = requests.get(url)
+    except:
+        message = 'Failed to download METAR data'
+        return [0,0,message,'','']
+        
 
     if s.ok:
         doc = etree.fromstring(s.content)