NCEP GRIB2 Documentation
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GRIB2 use at NCEP
NCEP GRIB2 Documentation
NCEP WMO GRIB2 Documentation
Version 36.0.0 - November 17, 2025
Please see the
disclaimer
at the bottom of this page
Introduction
Revision History
Section 0
- Indicator Section
Table 0.0
- Discipline of Processed Data
Section 1
- Identification Section
Table 1.0
- GRIB Master Tables Version Number
Table 1.1
- GRIB Local Tables Version Number
Table 1.2
- Significance of Reference Time
Table 1.3
- Production Status of Data
Table 1.4
- Type of Data
Table 1.5
- Identification Template Number
Identification Template 1.0
- Calendar Definition
Identification Template 1.1
- Paleontological Offset
Identification Template 1.2
- Calendar Definition and Paleontological Offset
Table 1.6
- Type of Calendar
Section 2
- Local Use Section
Section 3
- Grid Definition Section
Table 3.0
- Source of Grid Definition
Table 3.1
- Grid Definition Template Number
Table 3.2
- Shape of the Reference System
Table 3.3
- Resolution and Component Flags
Table 3.4
- Scanning Mode
Table 3.5
- Projection Center
Table 3.6
- Spectral Data Representation Type
Table 3.7
- Spectral Data Representation Mode
Table 3.8
- Grid Point Position
Table 3.9
- Numbering Order of Diamonds
Table 3.10
- Scanning Mode for One Diamond
Table 3.11
- Interpretation of List of Numbers at end of section 3
Table 3.12
- HEALPix rhomboids or points ordering
Table 3.13
- HEALPix scanning mode
Table 3.15
- Physical Meaning of Vertical Coordinate
Table 3.20
- Type of Horizontal Line
Table 3.21
- Vertical Dimension Coordinate Values Definition
Table 3.25
- Type of Bi-Fourier Truncation
Section 4
- Product Definition Section
Table 4.0
- Product Definition Template Number
Table 4.1
- Parameter Category by Product Discipline
Table 4.2
- Parameter Number by Product Discipline and
Parameter Category
Table 4.3
- Type of Generating Process
Table 4.4
- Indicator of Unit of Time Range
Table 4.5
- Fixed Surface Types and Units
Table 4.6
- Type of Ensemble Forecast
Table 4.7
- Derived Forecast
Table 4.8
- Clustering Method
Table 4.9
- Probability Type
Table 4.10
- Type of Statistical Processing
Table 4.11
- Type of Time Intervals
Table 4.12
- Operating Mode
Table 4.13
- Quality Control Indicator
Table 4.14
- Clutter Filter Indicator
Table 4.15
- Type of Spatial Processing used to arrive at given data value from the source data
Table 4.16
- Quality Value Associated with Parameter
Table 4.91
- Type of Interval
Table 4.100
- Type of Reference Dataset
Table 4.101
- Type of Relationship to Reference Dataset
Table 4.102
- Statistical Processing of Reference Period
Table 4.103
- Spatial Vicinity Type
Table 4.104
- Spatial and Temporal Vicinity Processing
Table 4.105
- Spatial and Temporal Vicinity Missing Data
Table 4.106
- Radar Data Quality Flags
Table 4.120
- Verification Scores
Table 4.121
- Type of Reference Dataset for Verification
Table 4.122
- Type of Additional Arguments for Verification Score
Table 4.201
- Precipitation Type
Table 4.202
- Precipitable Water Category
Table 4.203
- Cloud Type
Table 4.204
- Thunderstorm Coverage
Table 4.205
- Presence of Aerosol
Table 4.206
- Volcanic Ash
Table 4.207
- Icing
Table 4.208
- Turbulence
Table 4.209
- Planetary Boundary-Layer Regime
Table 4.210
- Contrail Intensity
Table 4.211
- Contrail Engine Type
Table 4.212
- Land Use
Table 4.213
- Soil Type
Table 4.214
- Environmental Factor Qualifier
Table 4.215
- Remotely Sensed Snow Coverage
Table 4.216
- Elevation of Snow Covered Terrain
Table 4.217
- Cloud Mask Type
Table 4.218
- Pixel Scene Type
Table 4.219
- Cloud Top Height Quality Indicator
Table 4.220
- Horizontal Dimension Processed
Table 4.221
- Treatment of Missing Data
Table 4.222
- Categorical Result
Table 4.223
- Fire Detection Indicator
Table 4.224
- Categorical Outlook
Table 4.225
- Weather
Table 4.227
- Icing Scenario (Weather/Cloud Classification)
Table 4.228
- Icing Severity
Table 4.230
- Atmospheric Chemical or Physical Type
Table 4.233
- Aerosol Type
Table 4.234
- Canopy Cover Fraction
Table 4.236
- Soil Texture Cover Fraction
Table 4.238
- Source or Sink
Table 4.239
- Wetland Type
Table 4.240
- Type of Distribution Function
Table 4.241
- Coverage Attributes
Table 4.242
- Tile Classification
Table 4.243
- Tile Class
Table 4.244
- Quality Indicator
Table 4.246
- Thunderstorm Intensity
Table 4.247
- Precipitation Intensity
Table 4.248
- Method Used to Derive Data Values for a Given Local Time
Table 4.249
- Character of Precipitation
Table 4.250
- Drainage Direction
Table 4.251
- Wave Direction and Frequency Formulae
Table 4.252
- Tile Classes and Groupings
Table 4.253
- Hazard Index
Table 4.333
- Transport Dispersion Model
Table 4.335
- Emission Scenario Origin
Table 4.336
- NWP Model
Section 5
- Data Representation Section
Table 5.0
- Data Representation Template Number
Table 5.1
- Type of Original Field Values
Table 5.2
- Matrix Coordinate Value Function Definition
Table 5.3
- Matrix Coordinate Parameter
Table 5.4
- Group Splitting Method
Table 5.5
- Missing Value Management for Complex Packing
Table 5.6
- Order of Spatial Differencing
Table 5.7
- Precision of Floating Point Numbers
Table 5.25
- Type of Bi-Fourier Subtruncation
Table 5.26
- Packing Mode for Axes
Table 5.40
- Type of Compression
Section 6
- Bit Map Section
Table 6.0
- Bit Map Indicator
Section 7
- Data Section
Table 7.0
- Data Template Number
Section 8
- End Section
Appendix A
- Outline of WMO Headers Used With GRIB1 and GRIB2
Appendix B
- Outline of WMO Headers for the EPA/CMAQ model
Appendix C
- Definition of Commonly used NCEP Grids
Disclaimer:
This web page and the pages it links to are for the use of NOAA employees and their customers to facilitate in the transfer of meteorological data in WMO GRIB2 format.  Nothing in these pages should be considered official.  To obtain official documentation on the WMO GRIB2 data standard, please visit the WMO web site.
Documentation and Software for NCEP WMO GRIB1 can be found here:
GRIB1
Information on NCEP's use of WMO GRIB2 can be found here:
GRIB2
Page last modified: 01 December 2025.
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