Revised 04/20/2020
Red text depicts changes made since 03/29/2019
The
WMO abbreviated heading is used to identify the NCEP GRIB messages; however, it
is not a complete description of their content. The user is
cautioned against using the header as the sole
determiner of the record content; one should, of course, rely on
the Product
Definition Section for that purpose.
Note: In the following, a hexadecimal number is enclosed in parentheses followed by the designation "hex". The information needed to identify the NCEP product is contained in 21 octets. The characters are encoded using the CCITT-ITA No. 5, also known (in the US) as ASCII characters, and are defined as follows:
The first six characters are commonly referred to as: T1 T2 A1 A2 ii In summary... Generic Meaning of T1 T2 A1 A2 ii : T1: Type of bulletin: "H"
for GRIB messages for Family
of Services, WAFS, and International Exchange. A1: Grid A2: Analysis or forecast hour
ii: Numeric. Usually a pressure
level, sometimes just a
sequence number. Some values have
special level or layer In the following tables, the columns headed AWIPS are augmentations to the common Family of Services (FOS), National, and International Exchange variables. FOS, National and International GRIB messages (with H as the initial character) draw upon the left hand columns only. National, International, and AWIPS GRIB messages (with O as the initial character) draw upon the middle column only. AWIPS GRIB messages (with Y or Z as the initial character) use letters from both the left and right columns. If each column contains entries for the same designator, the T1 character (H, O, Y, or Z) indicates which entry to use. NOTE: The characters 'L' and 'M' are used no more for the AWIPS products starting in August, 2014. |
Designator | PARAMETER | ||
---|---|---|---|
FOS & International (H) | AWIPS (E or O) | AWIPS (Y or Z) | |
A | U-wind/current component | Cloud of non-conforming ICWF* parameters | |
B | V-wind/current component | Vertical Wind Shear | |
C | Vorticity | Total Significant Wave Height | Vorticity |
D | Depth | Probability Parameters | |
E | Total Precipitation | Ice Concentration | Total Precipitation |
F | Long Wave Radiation | Ice Thickness | Precipitable Water |
G | Convective Precipitation | Ice Drift | Convective Precipitation |
H | Height (geopotential) | Ice Growth | Height (geopotential) |
I | Ice Convergence | Non-Convective Precipitation | |
J | Significant Wave Height | Period of Spectral Peak of the Ocean Waves | Precipitation Rate |
K | Primary Wave Period | Direction of Spectral Peak of the Ocean Waves | Visibility |
L | Primary Wave Direction | Height of Significant Wind Waves | Soil Parameters |
M | Secondary Wave Period | Mean Period of Wind Waves | Catagorical Parameters (yes/no) |
N | Secondary Wave Direction | Mean Direction of Wind Waves | Wind Speed or Gust |
O | Vertical Velocity | Height of Significant Swell Waves | Vertical Velocity |
P | Pressure | Mean Direction of Swell Waves | Pressure |
Q | Wind Speed | Stability Index | |
R | Relative Humidity | Wind Direction | Relative Humidity |
S | Snow | Salinity | Snow |
T | Air Temperature | Ocean Temperature | |
U | U Wind Component | Vessel Icing | U Wind Component |
V | V Wind Component | Visibility | V Wind Component |
W | wave Steepness | CAPE | |
X | Surface Lifted Index | Mixed Data | Surface Parameters |
Y | UV Index | Mean Period of Swell Waves | CIN |
Z | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) |
Designator | PARAMETER For Extra Tropical Storm Surge KNHC and KWBM |
||
C | Extra Tropical Storm Surge Combined Surge and Tide | ||
E | Ocean Surface Elevation Relative To Geoid | ||
G | Hurricane Storm Surge | ||
H | Extra Tropical Storm Surge | ||
Designator | PARAMETER For World Area Forecast System (WAFS) - KWBC | ||
B | Horizontal Extent of Cumulonimbus (CB) | ||
F | In-Cloud Turbulence | ||
H | Geopotential Height of Standard Levels | ||
H | Maximum Wind Height (ICAO) | ||
H | Tropopause Height (ICAO) | ||
I | Icing | ||
R | Relative Humidity | ||
T | Temperature | ||
T | Tropopause Temperature | ||
U | U-component Wind | ||
U | Maximum U-component Wind | ||
V | V-component Wind | ||
V | Maximum V-component Wind | ||
L | Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) | ||
Designator | PARAMETER For Real-Time Ocean Forecast System (RTOFS) - KWBW | ||
H | Sea Surface Height Relative to Geoid | ||
S | Salinity | ||
T | Water Temperature | ||
U | U-Component of Current | ||
V | V-Component of Current | ||
U | Barotropic U velocity | ||
V | Barotropic V velocity | ||
Designator | PARAMETER For Wind Wave Forecast Model - KWBJ | ||
C | Significant Height of Combined Wind Waves and Swell | ||
D | Direction of Combined Wind Waves and Swell | ||
F | Inverse Mean Wave Frequency | ||
I | Ice Cover | ||
J | Primary Wave Mean Period | ||
K | Primary Wave Direction | ||
L | Significant Height of Wind Waves | ||
M | Mean Period of Wind Waves | ||
N | Direction of Wind Waves | ||
O | Significant Height of Swell Waves | ||
P | Direction of Swell Waves | ||
Q | Wind Speed | ||
R | Wind Direction | ||
U | U-Component of Wind | ||
V | V-Component of Wind | ||
U | U-Component of Current | ||
V | V-Component of Current | ||
W | Mean Period of Combined Wind Waves and Swell | ||
Y | Mean Period of Swell Waves | ||
Z | Current Direction | ||
Z | Current Speed | ||
Designator | LEVEL For Wind Wave Forecast Model - KWBJ | ||
ii | Sea Surface |
Designator | Grid Number (See Table B in ON-388) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
FOS and International (H) |
AWIPS (O) - For "CCCC" = KWBC | AWIPS (E) - For "CCCC" = KWBJ | AWIPS (Y, Z) - For "CCCC" = KWBC | |
A | 21 | 228 - 2.5x2.5 deg Lat/Lon Global | 11 - 0.5 deg - Lat/Lon Global grid | 201 - 381 km Northern Hemisphere |
B | 22 | 218 - 12 km CONUS | 12 - 0.167 deg - US East Coast | 218 - 12 km CONUS |
C | 23 | 219 - N. Hemisphere High Res | 13 - 0.167 deg - US West Coast | 225 - 80 km National Double Resoulution - Hawaii |
D | 24 | 220 - S. Hemisphere High Res | 14 - 0.167 deg - Eastern Pacific (includes Hawaii and extends to the Pacific islands of Guam) |
130 - 13-km CONUS |
E | 25 | 221 - N. American High Resolution | 15 - 0.25 x 0.167 deg - Alaska | 185 - 12 km CONUS (DGEX) |
F | 26 | 229 - 1.0x1.0 deg Lat/Lon Global | 16 - 0.133 x 0.167 deg - Alaska | 186 – 12 km Alaska (DGEX) |
G | 50 | 230 - 0.5x0.5 deg Lat/Lon Global | 17 - 0.067 deg - US West Coast | 160 - 47.5 km Alaska NPS |
H | 231 - 0.5x0.5 deg Lat/Lon N.H. | 18 - 0.067 deg - US East Coast | 213 - 95 km CONUS | |
I | 37 | 232 - 1.0x1.0 deg Lat/Lon N.H. | 176 - .050 x .035 degree grid - Great Lakes |
202 - 191 km CONUS |
J | 38 | 233 - 1.25x1.00 deg Lat/Lon Global | 203 - 191 km Alaska | |
K | 39 | 234 - 0.25x0.25 deg Lat/Lon ECGM regional | 2.5 km - Lambert Conformal Great Lake Wave High Resolution grid |
204 - 160 km Hawaii |
L | 40 | 235 - 0.5x0.5 deg Lat/Lon Global | 0.25 deg - Lat/Lon Global grid | 205 - 191 km Puerto Rico |
M | 41 | 238 - Western North Atlantic Lat/Lon | 238 - Western North Atlantic Lat/Lon | 227 - 5 km CONUS |
N | 42 | 239 - Alaska Regional Lat/Lon | 207 - 95 km Alaska | |
O | 43 | 244 - North Atlantic Lat/Lon | Atlantic Ocean - 0.16 deg Lat/Lon grid | 254 - 40 km Mercator Pacific Region |
P | 44 | 251 - COFS Lat/Lon | Eastern Pacific - 0.16 deg Lat/Lon grid | 237 - 32 km Puerto Rico |
Q | 253 - Eastern North Pacific Lat/Lon | 253 - Eastern North Pacific Lat/Lon | 211 - 80 km CONUS | |
R | 212 - 40 km CONUS | 260 - 25 km North Atlantic (OPC) | 212 - 40 km CONUS | |
S | 253 - Eastern North Pacific Lat/Lon | 242 - 11.25 km Alaska | ||
T | 61 | 214 - 48 km Alaska | Arctic 9km - North Polar Stereographic grid | 161 - 0.5 degree Lat/Lon Puerto Rico |
U | 62 | 215 - 20 km CONUS | 261 - 25 km North Pacific (OPC) | 215 - 20 km CONUS |
V | 63 | 216 - 45 km Alaska | 216 - 45 km Alaska | |
W | 64 | 173 - 1/12 degree Global Lat/Lon | West Coast - 0.16 deg Lat/Lon grid | 236 - 40 km CONUS |
X | 243 - 0.4 degree NE Pacific | |||
Y | 217 - 22 km Alaska | |||
Z | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) | |||
Designator | Grid Number For World Area Forecast System (WAFS) - KWBC | |||
X | 45 - Global Latitude/Longitude 1.25 degree Resolution |
TABLE
A.2 GRID DESIGNATOR - A1 (continued - 1)
(Header Octet 3)
For All NCEP GRIB products have a CCCC that starts with KWB(?)
Designator | Grid Number (See Table B in ON-388) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
For "CCCC" = KWBS | For "CCCC" = KWBR | For "CCCC" = KWBE | For "CCCC" = KWBT | For "CCCC" = KWBM | For "CCCC" = KWBW | |
AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (E) | AWIPS (E) | |
A | HIRES - 5 km Eastern US | 198 (RTMA) 6 km Alaska | 198 - 6.0 km Alaska | 198 - 6.0 km Alaska | RTOFS - 0.3 km Alaska | |
B | HIRES - 5 km Western US | 218 - 12 km CONUS | RTOFS - 0.08 km Bering | |||
C | HIRES - 5 km Alaska | 195 (RTMA) 2.5 km Puerto Rico | 195 - 2.5 km Puerto Rico | RTOFS - 0.08 km Western CONUS | ||
D | HIRES - 5 km Pacific Hawaii | 92 (RTMA) 1.488 km Alaska | 184 - 2.54 km CONUS-Pacific | RTOFS - 0.08 km Arctic | ||
E | HIRES - 5 km Puerto Rico | RTMA - 1.25 km Puerto Rico | NAM Smartinit - 1.25 km Puerto Rico | |||
F | HIRES - 5 km Pacific Guam | |||||
G | 199 (RTMA) 2.5 km Guam | 199 (GFS DNG) 2.5 km Guam | 199 (ESTOFS) 2.5 km Guam | RTOFS - 0.08 km Guam | ||
H | 196 (RTMA) 2.5 km Hawaii | 196 - 2.5 km Hawaii | 196 - 2.5 km Hawaii | RTOFS - 0.08 km Honolulu | ||
I | 184 (RTMA) 2.54 km CONUS | 184 - 2.54 km CONUS | 184 - 2.54 km CONUS-Atlantic | RTOFS - 0.5 km Gulf of Alaska | ||
J | 90 (RTMA) 1.27 km CONUS | RTOFS - 0.25 km Hudson-baffin | ||||
K | 91 (RTMA) 2.976 km Alaska | 91 - 2.976 km Alaska | RTOFS - 0.08 km Western Atlantic | |||
L | ||||||
M | 197 (RTMA) 5 km CONUS | 227 - 5 km CONUS | ESTOFS - 10.0 km Micronesia | RTOFS - 0.05 km Atlantic | ||
N | 188 (RTMA - NWRFC) 2.5 km | 207 - 95 km Alaska | ||||
O | 197 (NAM DNG) 5 km CONUS | |||||
P | 189 (RTMA - JUNEA) 1.5 km | 237 - 32 km Puerto Rico | 1.25 km - Puerto Rico | |||
Q | 184 (URMA) 2.54 km CONUS | 211 - 80 km CONUS | ||||
R | 188 (URMA - NWRFC) 2.5 km | 212 - 40 km CONUS | ||||
S | 242 - 11.25 km Alaska | RTOFS - 0.08 km Samoa | ||||
T | RTOFS - 1.0 km Tropical Pacific | |||||
U | 215 - 20 km CONUS | |||||
V | 216 - 45 km Alaska | |||||
W - Y | Reserved for Future Use | |||||
Z | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) |
TABLE
A.2 GRID DESIGNATOR - A1 (continued - 2)
(Header Octet 3)
For All NCEP GRIB products have a CCCC that starts with KWB(?)
Designator | Grid Number (See Table B in ON-388) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
For "CCCC" = KWBK | For "CCCC" = KWBF | For "CCCC" = KWBV | For "CCCC" = KWBY | For "CCCC" = KWBD | For "CCCC" = KWB? |
For "CCCC" = KWB? |
|
AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (Y, Z) | AWIPS (Y, Z) | |
A | 3 - Global Lat/Lon 1.0 deg | 3 - Global Lat/Lon 1.0 deg | 198 (DGEX) 6 km Alaska | ||||
B | |||||||
C | Global Gaussian Lat/Lon T126 Resolution | 2.5km NDGD grid for CONUS | |||||
D | |||||||
E | 221 - N. American High Resolution | ||||||
F - N | Reserved for Future Use | ||||||
O | 197 (DGEX) 5 km CONUS | ||||||
P - Y | Reserved for Future Use | ||||||
Z | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) |
DESIGNATOR | FORECAST HOUR | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
FOS,
International (H) and AWIPS (Y) For KWBC |
National, International (O) and AWIPS (E or O) | AWIPS (Z) For KWBC |
||
For KWBC | For KWBJ or KWBU or KWBM or KWBW | |||
A | 00 hour analysis | 00 hour analysis | 00 hour analysis | 02 hour fcst |
B | 06 hour fcst | 01,02,..,12 hour fcst | 01,02,03 hour fcst | 03 hour fcst |
C | 12 hour fcst | 13,14,..,24 hour fcst | 04,05,06 hour fcst | 04 hour fcst |
D | 18 hour fcst | 25,26,..,36 hour fcst | 07,08,09 hour fcst | 08 hour fcst |
E | 24 hour fcst | 37,38,..,48 hour fcst | 10,11,12 hour fcst | 09 hour fcst |
F | 30 hour fcst | 49,50,..,60 hour fcst | 13,14,15 hour fcst | 10 hour fcst |
G | 36 hour fcst | 61,62,..,72 hour fcst | 16,17,18 hour fcst | 14 hour fcst |
H | 42 hour fcst | 73,74,..,84 hour fcst | 19,20,..,23 hour fcst | 15 hour fcst |
I | 48 hour fcst | 85,86,..,96 hour fcst | 24,25,..,29 hour fcst | 16 hour fcst |
J | 60 hour fcst | 108 hour fcst | 30,31,..,35 hour fcst | 20 hour fcst |
K | 72 hour fcst | 120 hour fcst | 36,37,..,41 hour fcst | 21 hour fcst |
L | 84 hour fcst | 144 hour fcst | 42,43,..,47 hour fcst | 27 hour fcst |
M | 96 hour fcst | 168 hour fcst | 48,49,..,59 hour fcst | 54 hour fcst |
N | 108 hour fcst | 192 hour fcst | 60,61,..,71 hour fcst | 66 hour fcst |
O | 120 hour fcst | 216 hour fcst | 72,73,..,83 hour fcst | 33 hour fcst |
P | 132 hour fcst | 240 hour fcst | 84,85,..,95 hour fcst | 39 hour fcst |
Q | 144 hour fcst | 264 hour fcst | 96,97,..,119 hour fcst | 45 hour fcst |
R | 156 hour fcst | 288 hour fcst | 120,121,..,131 hour fcst | 51 hour fcst |
S | 168 hour fcst | 312 hour fcst | 132,133,..,143 hour fcst | 57 hour fcst |
T | 180 hour fcst | 336 hour fcst | 144,145,..,155 hour fcst | 78 hour fcst |
U | 192 hour fcst | 360 hour fcst | 156,157,..,167 hour fcst | 90 hour fcst |
V | 204 hour fcst | 384 hour fcst | 168,169,..,174 hour fcst | 102 hour fcst |
W | 216 hour fcst | - | 175,176,..,180 hour fcst | 114 hour fcst |
X | 228 hour fcst | - | 181,182,...,203,204 hour fcst | |
Y | 240 hour fcst | - | 205,206,...,239,240 hour fcst | |
Z | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) |
Designator | FORECAST HOUR For World Area Forecast System (WAFS) - KWBC | |||
C | 06 Forecast hour | |||
D | 09 Forecast hour | |||
E | 12 Forecast hour | |||
F | 15 Forecast hour | |||
G | 18 Forecast hour | |||
H | 21 Forecast hour | |||
I | 24 Forecast hour | |||
J | 27 Forecast hour | |||
K | 30 Forecast hour | |||
L | 33 Forecast hour | |||
M | 36 Forecast hour |
The WMO headings for NAM model products generated on grid 237 (Puerto Rico) and HRRR and RAP model products generated on grid grid 130 (CONUS 13 km) use a special table for the FORECAST HOUR DESIGNATOR - A2 (Header Octet 4). This table is defined as follows: |
DESIGNATOR | FORECAST HOUR AWIPS (Y or Z) |
DESIGNATOR | FORECAST HOUR AWIPS (Y or Z) |
---|---|---|---|
A | 00 Hour Analysis | N | 18 Hour Forecast |
B | 01 Hour Forecast | O | 24 Hour Forecast |
C | 02 Hour Forecast | P | 30 Hour Forecast |
D | 03 Hour Forecast | Q | 36 Hour Forecast |
E | 04 Hour Forecast | R | 42 Hour Forecast |
F | 05 Hour Forecast | S | 48 Hour Forecast |
G | 06 Hour Forecast | T | 60 Hour Forecast |
H | 07 Hour Forecast | U | 72 Hour Forecast |
I | 08 Hour Forecast | V | 84 Hour Forecast |
J | 09 Hour Forecast | W | 96 Hour Forecast |
K | 10 Hour Forecast | X | 108 Hour Forecast |
L | 11 Hour Forecast | Y | 120 Hour Forecast |
M | 12 Hour Forecast | Z | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) |
The above table is maintained by the NWS Office of the Chief Information Officer and can be found online at:
https://www.weather.gov/tg/tablec10
TABLE
A.4 LEVEL DESIGNATORS - ii
(Header Octets 5 and 6)
The following version of Table A.4 contains changes implemented by the WMO
on November 3, 1993. Unless indicated in
Table A.4 below, the designator given is the hundreds and tens digits
of the hPa level in the atmosphere, e.g. 70=700hPa; 03=30hPa, etc.
DESIGNATOR | LEVEL or LAYER |
---|---|
99 | 1000 hPa |
98 | Air Properties at the Surface of Earth or 2 m above ground |
97 | Level of the Tropopause |
96 | Level of the Maximum Wind |
95 | 950 hPa |
94 | Level of the 0 deg. C isotherm |
93 | 975 hPa |
92 | 925 hPa |
91 | 875 hPa |
90 | 900 hPa |
89 | Any Parameter reduced to Mean Sea Level |
88 | Land/Water Properties at the Surface of the Earth/Ocean |
87 | 1000-500 hPa thickness |
86 | Boundary Layer |
85 | 850 hPa |
82 | 825 hPa |
80 | 800 hPa |
77 | 775 hPa |
75 | 750 hPa |
74 | Cloud Top Level |
73 | Cloud Bottom Level (high, med, or low) |
72 | 725 hPa |
71 | Cloud Ceiling Level |
70 | 700 hPa |
67 | 675 hPa |
65 | 650 hPa |
62 | 625 hPa |
60 | 600 hPa |
57 | 575 hPa |
55 | 550 hPa |
52 | 525 hPa |
50 | 500 hPa |
47 | 475 hPa |
45 | 450 hPa |
42 | 425 hPa |
40 | 400 hPa |
37 | 375 hPa |
35 | 350 hPa |
32 | 325 hPa |
30 | 300 hPa |
27 | 275 hPa |
25 | 250 hPa |
22 | 225 hPa |
20 | 200 hPa |
17 | 175 hPa |
15 | 150 hPa |
12 | 125 hPa |
10 | 100 hPa |
08 | 80 m above ground |
01 | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) |
00 | Entire Atmosphere |
Note: The following levels are used to indicate geometric height for aviation flight levels, not pressure levels | |
81 | 6000 ft FL (approximately 810 hPa) |
73 | 9000 ft FL (approximately 730 hPa) |
65 | 12000 ft FL (approximately 650 hPa) |
50 | 18000 ft FL (approximately 510 hPa) |
TABLE A.5 MODEL IDENTIFIERS
(Header Octet 11)
All NCEP GRIB products have a CCCC that starts with KWB(?).
The fourth letter (?) of this identifier is defined as follows:
DESIGNATOR | NCEP MODEL |
---|---|
A | Reserved for Future Use |
B | Reserved for Future Use |
C | Global Forecast System Model (GFS) |
D | Downscaled GFS using NAM eXtension (DGEX) |
E | North American Mesoscale (NAM) Model |
F | Climate Forecast System (CFS) |
G | Rapid Refresh (RAP) |
H | High Resolution Ensemble Forecast (HREF) |
I | Sea Surface Temperature Analysis (SST) |
J | Wind-Wave Forecast Model |
K | Global Ensemble Forecasts |
L | Regional Ensemble Forecasts |
M | Ocean Models/Extratropical Storm Surge Model |
N | Used by NDFD Program |
O | Merge of Models |
P | AQM/AIR Quality Model |
Q | MDL Gridded MOS Products |
R | Real Time Mesoscale Analysis / Analysis of Error |
S | Hires Window
Model (ARW, NMM); Five Domains (West/East US, AK, HI, PR) |
T | GFS Downscale Numerical Guidance |
U | Hurricane Wave Model |
V | North American Ensemble Forecast System (NAEFS) - CMC |
W | Real-Time Ocean Forecast System - RTOFS |
X | European Center for Medium range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) |
Y | High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) |
Z | Refer to GRIB2 - Production Definition Template (PDT) |
Note: The identifiers KWBA, KWBB and KWD(A-Z) are reserved for future use. |