Local Climatological Data (LCD) Publication

browse graphicLocal Climatological Data GIS image
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. The local climatological data annual file is produced from the National Weather Service (NWS) first and second order stations. These data are contained in the LCD monthly and annual publications. The monthly summaries include maximum, minimum, and average temperature, temperature departure from normal, dew point temperature, average station pressure, ceiling, visibility, weather type, wet bulb temperature, relative humidity, degree days (heating and cooling), daily precipitation, average wind speed, fastest wind speed/direction, sky cover, and occurrences of sunshine, snowfall and snow depth. The annual summary with comparative data contains monthly and annual averages of the above basic climatological data in the meteorological data for the current year section, a table of the normals, means, and extremes of these same data, and sequential table of monthly and annual values of average temperature, total precipitation, total snowfall, and total degree days. Also included is a station location table showing in detail a history of, and relative information about, changes in the locations and exposure of instruments. The NCDC also archives a Preliminary Local Climatological Data manuscript that contains similar information, but is not quality controlled.
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • gov.noaa.ncdc:C00128
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  • CSV
  • fixed-length ASCII text
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  • KMZ
  • PDF
  • XML
Ordering InstructionsContact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
DistributorNOAA 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 Period1882-01-01 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: 72.0
S: -15.0
E: 180.0
W: -180.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Publication Dates
  • publication: 1996-01-01
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress StatusComplete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency Monthly
PurposeThe LCD Publication provides a long-term climate dataset from land-basaed in situ observations.
Cited Authors
  • User Engagement and Services Branch
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Originators
  • User Engagement and Services Branch
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publishers
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Maximum/Minimum Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Temperature Anomalies
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Degree Days
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount
  • Earth Science > Cryosphere > Sea Ice > Snow Depth
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Sunshine
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Frequency
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Anomalies
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Visibility
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Dew Point Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Ceiling
Data Center keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America
  • Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Puerto Rico
  • Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Micronesia > Guam
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > American Samoa
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Micronesia > Palau
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Micronesia > Marshall Islands
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Micronesia
Stratum keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Troposphere
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
  • Vertical Location > Stratosphere
Use Constraints
  • 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: 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: 2023-06-23
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov