National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD)

An animation of NDFD data showing significant wave heights forecast along the western coast of the United States from February 23, 2013, at 00 UTC through February 26, 2013, at 00 UTC. This image was produced with the Grid Analysis and Display System (GrADS) and ImageMagick.

The National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) is a suite of products generated by the National Weather Service (NWS) using data from regional NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). Forecast products locally generated at WFOs are digitally entered into the NDFD. Additionally, forecasters at WFOs enhance gridded model data generated by NCEP and enter these data into the NDFD. The products in the NDFD are used by the NWS to make text, graphic, and digital products that are then made available to the public and emergency managers. The NDFD also provides data for commercial weather companies to generate their own products based off of NWS forecasts.

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A single plot of NDFD surface relative humidity over the southwestern United States valid at 06 UTC on January 6, 2013. This data plot is the 00-hour forecast, or analysis. This image was produced by downloading one NDFD file through NOMADS and visualizing with the Grid Analysis and Display System (GrADS).

Access to NDFD products is available through the NOAA National Operational Model Archive and Distribution System (NOMADS). For data prior to October 6, 2008, access is provided through the NCEI HDSS Access Service (HAS) offline request system. Requests are limited to one day at a time due to the size and processing required. HAS access is recommended for users wanting to obtain many days of NDFD data.

Product Types

Product	Grid/Scale	Period of Record	Model Cycle	Output Timestep	Data Access Links
NDFD	Various	Approx. ten years to present online	Daily, various cycles	Various	FTP HTTPS TDS
NDFD - By WMO Header	Various	6Jun2004–Present	Daily, various cycles	Various	HAS
NDFD Daily Tar Files	Various	6Jun2004–5Oct2008	Daily, various cycles	Various	HAS