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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Gridded Dataset (NClimGrid)

NClimGrid

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The NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Gridded Dataset (NClimGrid) consists of four climate variables derived from the GHCN-D dataset: maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature and precipitation. Each file provides monthly values in a 5x5 lat/lon grid for the Continental United States. Data is available from 1895 to the present. In March 2015, new Alaska data was included in the nClimDiv dataset. The Alaska nClimDiv data were created and updated using similar methodology as that for the CONUS. It includes maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature and precipitation. In January 2025, the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) began summarizing the State of the Climate for Hawaii. This was made possible through a collaboration between NCEI and the University of Hawaii/Hawaii Climate Data Portal and completes a long-standing gap in NCEI's ability to characterize the State of the Climate for all 50 states. NCEI maintains monthly statewide, divisional, and gridded average temperature, maximum temperatures (highs), minimum temperature (lows) and precipitation data for Hawaii over the period 1991-2025.
  • Cite as: Vose, Russell S., Applequist, Scott, Squires, Mike, Durre, Imke, Menne, Matthew J., Williams, Claude N. Jr., Fenimore, Chris, Gleason, Karin, and Arndt, Derek (2014): NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Gridded Dataset (NClimGrid), Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. DOI:10.7289/V5SX6B56 [access date].
  • doi:10.7289/V5SX6B56
  • NCEI DSI 9823_01
  • NCEI DSI 9823_02
  • gov.noaa.ncdc:C00332
  • gridded-5km-ghcn-daily-temperature-and-precipitation
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00332
Full Text · XML
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Distribution Formats
  • TXT
  • NetCDF (Version: 4)
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Customer Engagement Branch
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
1-828-271-4800
ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Time Period 1895-01-01 to Present (time interval: 1-month)
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: 172.0
East: -65.0
South: 18.0
North: 72.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • NOAA's Climate Divisional Database (nCLIMDIV)
  • Improved Historical Temperature and Precipitation Time Series for U.S. Climate Divisions
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2015-06-12
  • creation: 2014-06-12
Edition v1.0
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Status not available
Data Update Frequency Monthly
Purpose To provide a gridded in situ dataset to the public for easy calculations of regional climate trends or comparisons with other gridded datasets.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Vose, Russell S., Applequist, Scott, Squires, Mike, Durre, Imke, Menne, Matthew J., Williams, Claude N. Jr., Fenimore, Chris, Gleason, Karin, and Arndt, Derek (2014): NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Gridded Dataset (NClimGrid), Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. DOI:10.7289/V5SX6B56 [access date].
Cited Authors
  • Russell Vose
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Scott Applequist
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Mike Squires
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Imke Durre
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Matthew J. Menne
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Claude N. Williams Jr.
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Chris Fenimore
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Karin Gleason
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Derek Arndt
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Principal Investigators
  • Russell Vose
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Collaborators
  • Scott Applequist
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Mike Squires
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Imke Durre
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Matthew J. Menne
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Claude N. Williams Jr.
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Chris Fenimore
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Karin Gleason
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Derek Arndt
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Maximum/Minimum Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Precipitation
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Air Temperature
  • Climate Change
  • Climatology
  • Surface Observations
  • Interpolation Schemes
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Meteorological Stations
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • Rain Gauges
  • Thermometers
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 1 km - < 10 km or approximately .01 degree - < .09 degree
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords
  • Monthly Climatology
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Vose, Russell S., Applequist, Scott, Squires, Mike, Durre, Imke, Menne, Matthew J., Williams, Claude N. Jr., Fenimore, Chris, Gleason, Karin, and Arndt, Derek (2014): NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Gridded Dataset (NClimGrid), Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. DOI:10.7289/V5SX6B56 [access date].
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage Statement Climate grids are derived using the GHCN-Daily dataset. Because of delays related to data collection, files are initially released as "preliminary". At the end of two years, "preliminary" files are reprocessed using all available data to ensure the most complete record is archived and available to users.
Processor
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Processing Steps
  • 2021-04-30T00:00:00 - With the addition of the new NetCDF data into the operational stream, the entire dataset period of record has migrated from HDSS tape archive DSI 9823_01 to the CLASS tape archive DSI 9823_02
  • In January 2025, the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) began summarizing the State of the Climate for Hawaii. This was made possible through a collaboration between NCEI and the University of Hawaii/Hawaii Climate Data Portal and completes a long-standing gap in NCEI's ability to characterize the State of the Climate for all 50 states.
Source Datasets
  • Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 3
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2025-12-03T18:08:47
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