Page Overview & Data Sources

This interface is for viewing weather forecasts from NOAA/NCEP numerical models. Select Forecast Model, Map Area, Variable, and Initialization from the pulldown menus above to view different forecasts. Use the Image Slider or playback controls to animate. See forecast period, output interval, and initialization times available for each model:

Global Forecast System (GFS) [0.25°]
10-day forecast  |  3-hourly  |  00,06,12,18 UTC

North American Mesoscale (NAM) [12km]
3.5-day forecast  |  hourly  |  00,06,12,18 UTC

North American Mesoscale (NAM) [3km]
2.5-day forecast  |  hourly  |  00,06,12,18 UTC

North American Mesoscale - Alaska (NAM) [3km]
2.5-day forecast  |  hourly  |  12 UTC

High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) [3km]
18/36-hour forecast  |  hourly  |  00-21 UTC every 3 hours

High Resolution Rapid Refresh - Alaska (HRRR) [3km]
36-hour forecast  |  hourly  |  00,12,18 UTC

High Resolution Deterministic Prediction System (HRDPS) [2.5km]
48-hour forecast  |  hourly  |  00,12 UTC
Downloaded from Meteological Services of Canada

National Blend of Models (NBM) [10km]
36-hour forecast  |  hourly  |  00,06,12,18 UTC

Air Quality Model (AQM) [4km]
48-hour forecast  |  hourly  |  06,12 UTC

Unrestricted Mesoscale Analysis (URMA) [2.5km]
1-day analysis  |  hourly  |  00 UTC

The forecast model output files is to generated the maps on this page are downloaded from the NOAA Operational Model Archive and Distribution System. Forecast maps on this page are generated using NCAR Command Language (NCL). These visualizations are for educational purposes.

These forecast maps are for educational purposes only. Always refer to the National Weather Service and NOAA for official guidance during impactful weather events.

Additional Information

• 2m Temperature refers to air temperature at 2 meters above the surface. 2m Temperature Anomaly refers to the departure of the current day (or hour) forecasted temperature from a long-term mean for the same day (and hour) of the year. The anomalies here are based on a 1979-2000 reference climatology derived from the NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR). This 22-year baseline is used instead of the more common 1981-2010 climate normal because 1979-2000 represents conditions prior to rapid Arctic warming and sea-ice loss. A comparison of different climate baselines against the historical temperature record is shown here.


• Temperature anomalies calculated between GFS (forecast) and CFSR (reanalysis) will differ somewhat from those calculated entirely within the Climate Forecast System framework (see this NCEP/NWS discussion on model bias).

Last updated 7 January 2024