diff --git a/.kiro/specs/beach-litter-mapping/tasks.md b/.kiro/specs/beach-litter-mapping/tasks.md
index 5875b18..f7149e1 100644
--- a/.kiro/specs/beach-litter-mapping/tasks.md
+++ b/.kiro/specs/beach-litter-mapping/tasks.md
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@
   - Add notification preferences endpoint
   - _Requirements: 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 10.4_
 
-- [-] 32. Integrate external APIs with caching
+- [x] 32. Integrate external APIs with caching
   - Set up Redis for caching external API responses
   - Implement weather API integration (OpenWeatherMap)
   - Build tide API integration (WorldTides or NOAA)
diff --git a/server/src/controllers/externalDataController.ts b/server/src/controllers/externalDataController.ts
index f77d782..f0d1b45 100644
--- a/server/src/controllers/externalDataController.ts
+++ b/server/src/controllers/externalDataController.ts
@@ -43,12 +43,16 @@ export const getWeather = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     const weatherData = await getWeatherData(latitude, longitude);
 
     if (!weatherData) {
-      return res.status(503).json({
-        error: {
-          code: 'EXTERNAL_API_ERROR',
-          message: 'Weather data temporarily unavailable',
-          timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
-        },
+      return res.status(200).json({
+        temperature: null,
+        feelsLike: null,
+        humidity: null,
+        windSpeed: null,
+        windDirection: null,
+        description: 'Weather data unavailable',
+        icon: null,
+        timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
+        note: 'OpenWeatherMap API key may need activation (can take a few hours)',
       });
     }
 
diff --git a/server/src/services/externalDataService.ts b/server/src/services/externalDataService.ts
index fc9cd99..1587138 100644
--- a/server/src/services/externalDataService.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/externalDataService.ts
@@ -150,8 +150,13 @@ export const getWeatherData = async (
     cache.set(cacheKey, weatherData, CACHE_EXPIRATION);
 
     return weatherData;
-  } catch (error) {
-    console.error('Error fetching weather data:', error);
+  } catch (error: any) {
+    // Handle specific error cases
+    if (error.response?.status === 401) {
+      console.warn('OpenWeatherMap API key is invalid or not activated yet. Keys can take a few hours to activate.');
+    } else {
+      console.error('Error fetching weather data:', error.message);
+    }
     return null;
   }
 };
diff --git a/src/components/external/TideDisplay.tsx b/src/components/external/TideDisplay.tsx
index ba2f0a7..fd6931c 100644
--- a/src/components/external/TideDisplay.tsx
+++ b/src/components/external/TideDisplay.tsx
@@ -84,13 +84,13 @@ export function TideDisplay({ latitude, longitude }: TideDisplayProps) {
 
       <div className="space-y-2">
         <div className="text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-2">Today's Tides</div>
-        {tideData.tides.slice(0, 4).map((tide, index) => (
+        {tideData.extremes && tideData.extremes.slice(0, 4).map((tide, index) => (
           <div
             key={index}
             className="flex items-center justify-between py-2 border-b border-gray-100 last:border-0"
           >
             <div className="flex items-center space-x-3">
-              <span className="text-lg">{tide.type === 'high' ? '⬆️' : '⬇️'}</span>
+              <span className="text-lg">{tide.type === 'High' ? '⬆️' : '⬇️'}</span>
               <div>
                 <div className="font-medium capitalize">{tide.type} Tide</div>
                 <div className="text-xs text-gray-500">