WMO Header Descriptions for
Gridpoint Data

WMO Header information

Syntax:

TVGFLL SSSS

Where:

T - Report type
V - Variable
G - Grid type
F - Forecast time
LL - Vertical level
SSSS - Report dissimination location

T	Description
H	NMC Legacy GRIB Products (NAM, GFS, ECMWF models)
L,M	Hi-res Products (RAP, HRRR, MRMS models)
Y,Z	Medium-res Products (RAP, NAM, GFS models)

V	Variable	V	Variable
A	Extreme temperature, winds, clouds	B	Conv extent, Wind shear
C	Absolute Vorticity	D	Prob of precipitation
E	Precipitation	F	Precipitable water, in-cloud turb
G	Convective precipitation	H	Geopotential height
I	Ice sev	J
K	Wave period	L	CAT, Wave direction
M		N
O	Vertical velocity	P	Pressure
Q	4 layer lifted index	R	Relative humidity
S	Snow cover	T	Temperature
U	U wind component	V	V wind component
W	CAPE	X	Lifted index
Y	Convective inhibition	Z	Helicity

G	Grid type	G	Grid type
A	21/201	B	22
C	23	D	24
E	25	F	26
G	50	H	213
I	37/202	J	38/203
K	39/204	L	40/205
M	41/206	N	42/207 (AK grid)
O	43/208	P	44
Q	211 (CONUS 81km)	R	212 (CONUS 40km)
S	213	T	61/214
U	62/215	V	63
W	64	X	WAFS 1.25

6 hour designation (NAM, GFS)

F	Forecast time	F	Forecast time
A	0 hour	B	6 hour
C	12 hour	D	18 hour
E	24 hour	F	30 hour
G	36 hour	H	42 hour
I	48 hour	J	60 hour
K	72 hour-3 day	L	84 hour
M	96 hour-4 day	N	108 hour
O	120 hour-5 day	P	132 hour
Q	144 hour-6 day	R	156 hour
S	168 hour-7 day	T	180 hour
U	192 hour-8 day	V	204 hour
W	216 hour-9 day	X	228 hour
Y	240 hour-10 day

3 hour designation (WAFS)

F	Forecast time	F	Forecast time
A	0 hour	B	3 hour
C	6 hour	D	9 hour
E	12 hour	F	15 hour
G	18 hour	H	21 hour
I	24 hour	J	27 hour
K	30 hour	L	33 hour
M	36 hour	N	39 hour
O	42 hour	P	45 hour
Q	48 hour

1 hour designation (RAP)

F	Forecast time	F	Forecast time
A	0 hour	B	1 hour
C	2 hour	D	3 hour
E	4 hour	F	5 hour
G	6 hour	H	7 hour
I	8 hour	J	9 hour
K	10 hour	L	11 hour
M	12 hour	N	13 hour
O	14 hour	P	15 hour
Q	16 hour	R	17 hour
S	18 hour

LL	Level	LL	Level
99	1000 mb	98	Surface
97	Tropopause	96	Max wind
95	950 mb	94	Freezing level
93	Sea surface	92	925 mb
91		90	900 mb
89	Surface	88	Ground
87		86	Boundary layer
85	850 mb	80	800 mb
75	750 mb	70	700 mb
65	650 mb	60	600 mb
55	550 mb	50	500 mb
45	450 mb	40	400 mb
35	350 mb	30	300 mb
25	250 mb	20	200 mb
15	150 mb	10	100 mb

Updated March 2022