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Surface Weather Observations Hourly

NERMS - Surface Weather Observations

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Standard hourly observations taken at Weather Bureau/National Weather Service offices and airports throughout the United States. Hourly observations began during the aviation boom in the late 1920s-early 1930s, and continue through Automated Surface Observing Stations (ASOS) today. Files scanned from original manuscript records of raw meteorological data collected by first and second order stations located in the U.S., U.S. Pacific Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and by military weather stations located worldwide. The vast majority of records are available online, but some records are still only available in the physical format only.
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • NCEI DSI 3900_03
  • NCEI WebARTIS: SWO (subset)
  • gov.noaa.ncdc:C01106
  • NERMS UUID: 6D110514A201492EBBEC834AC3629681
C01106
XML
Search Data
Download Data
Distribution Formats
  • XML
  • PDF
    • File Specification:
    • File Compression:
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
Coverage Description
Time Period1920 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: 72
S: 18
E: -65
W: 172
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Processing Documents
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2011-03-15
  • revision: 2013-05-02
Data Presentation Form Digital image
Hardcopy image - image archived in analog format
Dataset Progress Status Status not available
Data Update Frequency Irregular
PurposeIn the late 1990s NCEI realized the need to host digital images of environmental records on the internet, and developed an internal-to-NOAA system for uploading and indexing millions of original source data images from the NCEI archives. The system also enables collection and management, and supports public access. For decades, NCEI has remained committed to making more of its original environmental records available digitally to users across the United States and around.
Use Limitations
  • Controlled user access to the NERMS system
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
Theme keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Anticyclones/Cyclones
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Pressure Anomalies
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Hail
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Anomalies
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Ice Pellets > Sleet
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Snow
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Maximum/Minimum Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Temperature Anomalies
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Air Temperature
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Precipitation
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Pressure
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Wind Speed And Direction
  • Atmospheric - Upper-air - Cloud Properties
Data Center keywordsGlobal 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 keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Meteorological Stations
Instrument keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • Thermometers
  • Anemometers
  • Rain Gauges
  • Barometers
  • Visual Observations
Place keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America
Stratum keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
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: dataset
Lineage StatementThe vast majority of these digital image records were created by scanning original records from the NCEI physical archives through the Climate Database Modernization Program (CDMP). These efforts produced over 50 million images from 2000-2011. Additional scanning activities at NCEI also contribute to the image repository. Partnerships with other NOAA line offices and international weather services have contributed to the broad and global nature of digitally imaged records available from the NCEI.
Processor
  • NCDC Climate Data Modernization Program
Processing Steps
  • Scan
    Rationale: To digitize collection in order to make available online.
Processing Environmentpaper forms
Processing Documents
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.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • TEMPERATURE SENSORS
  • DRY BULB THERMOMETERS
  • TEMPERATURE LOGGERS
  • WET BULB THERMOMETERS
  • BAROMETERS
  • ALTIMETERS
  • HYGROMETERS
  • VISUAL OBSERVATIONS
  • WIND VANES
  • ANEMOMETERS
  • RAIN GAUGES
Platform
  • WEATHER STATIONS
Last Modified: 2025-12-12T20:45:32
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov