What are Level III data?
Level III data are the output product data of the Radar Product Generator. The
products assist forecasters and others in weather analysis, forecasts, warnings and weather tracking.
The pre-defined list of products are provided electronically in
near real-time to the NWS Radar Product Central Collection Dissemination
Service (RPCCDS)
(http://www.nws.noaa.gov/tg/rpccds.html). The products
are archived by the National Climatic Data Center and available via FTP
download
(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/nexradinv/choosesite.jsp).
Level III data are continuously transmitted and archived from 156 operational WSR-88Ds including all DOC and DOT WSR-88D
systems, and all but four of the DoD non-CONUS WSR-88D systems. The interface control document describing the
Level III format (ICD For RPG to CLASS 1 User – Build 12.1) is available at:
http://www.roc.noaa.gov/WSR88D/Program/ICDs.aspx.
Changes That May Impact RPCCDS Users
This notice is amended to change the date on which NWS will discontinue the distribution of certain low-resolution
products from February 2012 to December 4, 2012.
