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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Rapid Refresh (RAP) [13 km]

The Rapid Refresh (RAP) numerical weather model took the place of the Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) on May 1, 2012. Run by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), RAP runs with two versions. The first generates weather data on a 13-km (8-mile) resolution horizontal grid and the second, the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR), generates data down to a 3-km (2-mile) resolution grid for smaller regions of interest. RAP forecasts are generated every hour with forecast lengths going out 18 hours with a 1 hour temporal resolution. Multiple data sources go into the generation of RAP forecasts: commercial aircraft weather data, balloon data, radar data, surface observations, and satellite data. This dataset contains a 13 km horizontal resolution Lambert Conformal grid covering the Continental United States (CONUS) domain.
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • NCEI DSI 6187_08
  • gov.noaa.ncdc:C00690
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00690
Download Data
Distribution Formats
  • XML
  • GRIB 2 (Version: 2)
    • File Specification: http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/docs/grib2/
    • File Compression:
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Customer Engagement Branch
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
1-828-271-4800
ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
nomads.ncdc@noaa.gov
Coverage Description
Time Period 2012-05-09 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -139.9
East: -57.3
South: 16.2
North: 59.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2012-05-09
Data Presentation Form Digital model - multi-dimensional digital representation of a feature, process, etc.
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Daily
Purpose Developed to serve users needing frequently updated short-range weather forecasts, including those in the US aviation community and US severe weather forecasting community. Also used prominently for energy-related (especially renewable) forecast guidance.
Cited Authors
  • DOC/NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC > Environmental Modeling Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Originators
  • DOC/NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC > Environmental Modeling Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Distributors
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publishers
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Visibility
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Geopotential Height
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Planetary Boundary Layer Height
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Tropopause
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Atmospheric Pressure Measurements
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Pressure Thickness
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Sea Level Pressure
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Surface Pressure
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Atmospheric Stability
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Dew Point Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Potential Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Skin Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Dew Point Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Total Precipitable Water
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Boundary Layer Winds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Convection
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Upper Level Winds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Vorticity
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Profiles
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain > Freezing Rain
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Ice Pellets > Sleet
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Snow
  • Earth Science > Terrestrial Hydrosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Depth
  • Earth Science > Land Surface > Surface Thermal Properties > Land Surface Temperature
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Temperature > Sea Surface Temperature
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • NOMADS > The NOAA Operational Model Archive and Distribution System
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 10 km - < 50 km or approximately .09 degree - < .5 degree
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Boundary Layer
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
  • Vertical Location > Sea Surface
  • Vertical Location > Troposphere
  • Vertical Location > Stratosphere
Use Constraints No constraint information available
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2023-07-11
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