NCDC - Image and Publications System

A new dynamically generated Local Climatological Data (LCD) product is available through the Climate Data Online Data Tools page. This new product combines the old ULCD, QCLCD, and Edited LCD publications into one. The ULCD and QCLCD systems will be taken offline 4/2017, and the Monthly Edited LCD will no longer be published after the end of 2017. Historical issues of the Edited LCD Publication, as well as future Annual Editions, will continue to be available through the Image and Publications System. A sample of the new form and ASCII output is provided for your review. If you have questions or concerns, please contact NCEI Customer Service at 828-271-4800 or ncei.orders@noaa.gov.

Local Climatological Data (LCD) contains summaries from major airport weather stations that include a daily account of temperature extremes, degree days, precipitation amounts and winds. Also included are the hourly precipitation amounts and abbreviated 3-hourly weather observations. This is the final quality controlled copy and generally has a one to two month time lag.

Climatological Data (CD) monthly publication/annual contains station daily maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation amounts. Some stations provide daily snowfall, snow depth, evaporation, and soil temperature data. Each issue also contains monthly summaries for heating and cooling degree days (65 degrees F base). The July issue also contains monthly heating degree days and snow data for the preceding July through June. The annual issue contains monthly and annual averages of temperature, precipitation amounts, temperature extremes, freeze data, soil temperatures, evaporation, and a recap of monthly cooling degree days. This is the final quality controlled copy and generally has a four to six month time lag. Over 8000 stations are active nationwide.

The final issue of the Hourly Precipitation Data publication was the December, 2012 issue. Historical issues of this publication will continue to be available through the Images & Publications System. A new, dynamically generated Hourly Precipitation Data product will be available through the Climate Data Online system. If you have questions/concerns regarding this, please call NCDC Customer Service at (828) 271-4800.

Hourly Precipitation Data (HPD) publication contains hourly precipitation amounts obtained from recording rain gages located at National Weather Service, Federal Aviation Administration, and cooperative observer stations. Published data are displayed in inches to tenths or inches to hundredths at local standard time. HPD includes maximum precipitation for nine (9) time periods from 15 minutes to 24 hours, for selected stations. It includes an hourly account of precipitation amounts for many locations within a chosen state. This is the final quality controlled copy and generally has a four to six month time lag. Over 2500 stations are active nationwide.

Storm Data (SD) monthly publications contains a chronological listing, by states, of storm occurrences and unusual weather phenomena. Reports contain information on storm paths, deaths, injuries, and property damage. An "Outstanding storms of the month" section highlights severe weather events with photographs, illustrations, and narratives. Storm Data began in 1959 and is published with a single U.S. issue each month. Users may also search the NCDC Storm Event database to find various types of storms recorded in your county or use other selection criteria as desired.

Monthly Climatic Data for the World (MCDW) contains monthly mean temperature, pressure, precipitation, vapor pressure, and hours of sunshine for approximately 2,000 surface data collection stations worldwide and monthly mean upper air temperatures, dew point depressions, and wind velocities for approximately 500 observing sites. The publications is issued monthly. This is the final quality controlled copy and generally has a four to six month time lag.

COOP Data / Record of Climatological Observations Form is a monthly log that includes a daily account of temperature extremes (participating locations) & precipitation, along with snow data at some locations. Available for thousands of sites which are a part of the cooperative observing network in the US. The forms have a lag time of 1-2 months.

Data includes a national general summary of weather conditions, observed extremes of temp & precip by states, climatological data by station, heating degree/cooling degree days, flood data and losses, and storm summaries. Upper air data, sunshine and solar radiation data are also summarized. The annual issue each year also contains the year's short rainfall duration statistics, hurricane and typhoon data and storm tracks for various basins, tornado information and long term statistics.