The National Blend of Models (NBM)

The National Blend of Models (NBM) is a nationally consistent and skillful suite of calibrated forecast guidance based on a blend of both NWS and non-NWS numerical weather prediction model data and post-processed model guidance. The goal of the NBM is to create a highly accurate, skillful and consistent starting point for the gridded forecast. This new way to produce NDFD grids will be helpful providing forecasters with a suite of information to use for their forecasts. The NBM is considered an important part of the efforts to evolve NWS capabilities to achieve a Weather-Ready Nation.

NBM Data Download

Operational Products (NBM v3.2)

NBM Grib2 Files

The master files contain all available elements in Grib2 format (specifications can be found on the NBM v3.2 Grib Specifications Page). Files are in directories where YYYYMMDD is the run datestamp, and CC is the cycle. File names are as follows: blend.tCCz.master.fXXX.RR.grib2, where CC is the cycle, XXX is the forecast hour, and RR is the region. (Example: blend.t00z.master.f001.co.grib2) There are also limited numbers of other elements available by single file. These files are available for 1-2 days.

Grib2 NBM master files
Format grib2
Regions CONUS (co), Alaska (ak), Hawaii(hi), Puerto Rico(pr), Guam (gu), Oceanic (oc)
FTP ftp://ftp.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf/com/blend/prod/blend.YYYYMMDD/CC/grib2/
HTTP URL http://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf/com/blend/prod/blend.YYYYMMDD/CC/grib2/

NBM Full Text Bulletin Files

NBM text files contain bulletins for all available station locations in a single file. Files are as follows, where YYYYMMDD is the run datestamp, and CC is the cycle. These files come in five types: hourly (blend_nbhtx.tCCz),short-range(blend_nbstx.tCCz),extended-range(blend_nbetx.tCCz), super-extended range (blend_nbxtx.tCCz), and probabilistic (blend_nbptx.tCCz). Specifications can be found on the NBM Text Bulletin Key. These files are available for 1-2 days.

Data can be viewed for specific stations at our NBM Text Bulletin Page.

NBM text bulletin master files
Format ASCII text
Regions all (in one file)
FTP ftp://ftp.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf/com/blend/prod/blend.YYYYMMDD/CC/text/
HTTP URL http://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf/com/blend/prod/blend.YYYYMMDD/CC/text/

NBM grib2 and text Extended Archive

Both grib2 and text bulletins can also be found for an extended period of time on the Amazon Web Services S3 Explorer at https://noaa-nbm-grib2-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html . The file paths for each data type are as follows, where YYYYMMDD is the run datestamp, and CC is the cycle hour. The data begins for these products May 18, 2020 and extends through present. 

AWS S3 Explorer data paths by file type
grib2 data https://noaa-nbm-grib2-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html#blend.YYYYMMDD/CC/grib2/
text bulletin https://noaa-nbm-grib2-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html#blend.YYYYMMDD/CC/text/

Experimental Products (NBM v4.0)

If you desire access to NBM products prior to operational implementation, please contact MDL