NOAA's Weather and Climate Toolkit (WCT) is mapping and data conversion software. WCT is a free platform with source code that allows the visualization and export of local or remote weather and climate data including outputs from Radar, Satellites, and Modelling.
Unique data conversion features promote the interoperability of weather and climate information with various scientific communities and common software packages such as ArcGIS, Google Earth, MatLAB, QGIS, R, and many more. Advanced data conversion support for Google Earth enables the 2-D and 3D export of rendered data and isosurfaces.
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Download the Weather and Climate Toolkit
The following portable zip files contain an executable (Windows), app bundle (Mac) or shell script (Unix). These are not installers; just download, unzip, and double-click to run.
Note: Downloading the 'WCT-Only' option requires a separate installation of the Java System.
Windows
- Intel X64 (includes Java)
- ARM 64 (includes Java)
- WCT Only (Java not included)
Mac
Double-click the zip file to decompress the Mac 'App Bundle'. The 'App Bundle' is not signed through the Apple App Store. Special steps are needed to allow it to run, please see the instructions below.
- Intel X64 (includes Java)
- ARM / Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 and newer) (includes Java)
- WCT Only (Java not included)
Linux | Unix
Unzip the application zip file and double-click on the 'wct-viewer' script to open the interactive WCT window. Additional scripts are included which run from the command-line. Refer to WCT Command Line Usage for more information.
- Intel X64 (includes Java)
- ARM 64 (includes Java)
- WCT Only (Java not included)
Documentation
New Features Stable Release Version 4.9.1
- Support for AWS and Google Public Storage Buckets: The 'URL Directory' tab on the Data Selector window now supports s3:// or gs:// URLs for data on Amazon or Google cloud storage buckets. Authentication is not supported. The storage buckets must be have public, free, unauthenticated access enabled. All buckets in the NOAA Open Data Dissemination (NODD) program have these access settings and are supported.
- Additional Movie Export Formats: On Windows, the OpenCV libraries have been added, allowing the export of additional, and more modern, movie formats. Mac and Linux support will be considered for a future release.
- New Enhancements on Time Interpolation Tool: On Windows, the OpenCV libraries have been added, allowing the use of computer vision Optical Flow algorithm to automatically detect the motion of features between two timesteps. Mac and Linux support will be considered for a future release.
Bug Fixes
Version 4.9.0
- Changed NODD NEXRAD Level-2 Bucket Location from noaa-nexrad-level2.s3.amazonaws.com to unidata-nexrad-level2.s3.amazonaws.com.
- Fixed a bug that ignored custom color tables when animating gridded data.
- Changed legend in Level-III Rain Rate for the KL category from '25' to '27'.
Version 4.9.1:
- Supporting library updates.
Questions? Please contact our support staff
Older Versions
Please find the directory of Older Versions here: Index of Pub Data Directory
Change Log
Please view the 'New Features' window from the 'Help' menu in the Toolkit.
Windows
Installation instructions for Windows operating systems.
Standalone (wct.exe): Running from the standalone wct.exe executable only requires unzipping the 'Standalone' zip file after downloading and running the 'wct.exe' file.
There is no installer. Shortcuts to the 'wct.exe' file may be created by right-clicking and selecting 'Pin to Start Menu', 'Pin to Task Bar' or 'Send To Desktop (create shortcut)'
Mac
Download/Installation instructions for Linux/Unix operating systems.
- Download the appropriate version for your Mac architecture (how do I know?). Newer computers have transitioned to the ARM-based Apple Silicon chip.
- Launching the Toolkit: Double-click on the downloaded file to automatically unzip. After unzipping, double-click on the WCT application. Several steps are needed to allow
WCT to run in the newest Mac security. These steps only need to be done one time, but do need to be done for each new version downloaded. - Allowing the Toolkit to run:
A message will be shown that 'Apple could not verify...' the application. This is normal. At this time, the Weather and Climate Toolkit is not able to signed by an Apple App Store account.
Click on the '?' in the upper right corner, which opens a help screen that has a link to the settings to adjust. Click on the 'Open Privacy & Security settings for me'. - Adding the Exception: First, make sure the the "WCT... Not Opened" message pop-up is closed. Then click on 'Open Anyway' in the Privacy & Security settings.
- Final permissions:
As the WCT is launching, allow access to certain folders that it uses to cache files or access data. - Command Line | Batch Processing: Please refer to the Command Line Usage Guide for more information on the 'wct-export' script and supporting example configuration files included in the directory. The Linux distributions are recommended for batch processing on both Macs and Linux.
UNIX |LINUX
Installation instructions for Linux/Unix operating systems.
Standalone (App Bundle): Download the zip file and unzip the contents. There are several scripts contained in the unzipped folder. 'wct-viewer' is the script that launches the Weather and Climate Toolkit.
Please refer to the Tutorials tab or the Command Line Usage Guide for more information on the 'wct-export' script and supporting example configuration files included in the directory.
Export Formats
Current Vector Export Formats
Current Raster Grid Export Formats
- ESRI ASCII Grid
- ESRI Binary Grid (.hdr file with ASCII header info and .flt file with binary float data)
- NetCDF (CF-Gridded)
- GeoTIFF (8-bit grayscale and 32-bit)
Google Earth (KML/KMZ)
- The standard KMZ Export feature produces KML/KMZ format files which contain a georeferenced 'rendered' image overlay in PNG format. Unlike the Raster Grid Export Formats, the PNG image contains colors, not the actual data values.
- The '3D' KMZ Export of Weather Radar files produces KML/KMZ format files which contain a georeferenced 'rendered' image overlay draped on a COLLADA model representing the center of the Radar beam height.
- The Isosurface KMZ Export of 3D Weather Radar or Gridded files produces KML/KMZ format files containing polygons representing the 3D surface.
Java Requirements
Some organizations prefer to manage Java independently of tools that require Java. The 'No-JRE' option is available, which does not include a custom runtime. OpenJDK Version 17 or newer is required, from any of the OpenJDK providers including Microsoft, Adaptium, Oracle and more...
- WCT Versions 4.8.1 and after: The java module system is used to generate a custom Java Runtime Environment (JRE) containing just the modules needed for the WCT application.
- Version 4.8.1 uses OpenJDK Java 17.0.3 to generate the runtime. A separate install of Java is NOT required when using the platform-specific downloads for Intel (X86) or ARM (AArch64) CPU architectures.
- WCT Version 4.0.0 to 4.8.0: The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) Version 1.8 (also known as Java 8) or greater must be installed.
- WCT Version before 4.0.0: The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) Version 1.7 (also known as Java 7) or greater must be installed.
Administrator privileges are not needed to use the Weather and Climate Toolkit. Simply download the application as a zip file.
Note administrative privileges are needed to:
- Install/update a newer version of Java
User Computer Minimum RAM:
- Weather and Climate Toolkit - 512
Source Code
The Weather and Climate Toolkit source code is released under the following disclaimer:
NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI
151 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
THIS SOFTWARE AND ITS DOCUMENTATION ARE CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND THUS ARE AVAILABLE FOR UNRESTRICTED PUBLIC USE. THEY ARE FURNISHED "AS IS." THE AUTHORS, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, ITS INSTRUMENTALITIES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE USEFULNESS OF THE SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION FOR ANY PURPOSE. THEY ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY (1) FOR THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION; OR (2) TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO USERS.
To Download the Current Stable Release: wct-4.9.1-src.zip
About
NOAA, academia, industry, and international communities of scientists, and lay people use the Weather and Climate Toolkit to inform scientific research, monitor meteorological activity, and assess impacts to populations worldwide. The Weather and Climate Toolkit can be run with a point and click user interface, or from the command-line using the 'command prompt' in Windows or the 'terminal' on Mac and Unix/Linux.
The data export feature supports conversion of data to a variety of common formats including GeoJSON, KMZ, Shapefile, Well-Known Text, GeoTIFF, ESRI Grid and Gridded NetCDF. These data export features promote the interoperability of weather and climate information with various scientific communities and common software packages.
For more information, examples, and frequently asked questions, please refer to the tutorial tab on this page.
Current data types supported
- CF-compliant Gridded NetCDF
- Generic CF-compliant Irregularly-Spaced/Curvilinear Gridded NetCDF/HDF
- GRIB1, GRIB2, GINI, GEMPAK, HDF (CF-compliant) and more gridded formats
- GOES Satellite AREA Files
- NEXRAD Radar Data (Level-II and Level-III)
- U.S. Drought Monitor Service (from the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC))
- OPeNDAP support for Gridded Datasets
- Direct data access from Amazon and Google Cloud storage buckets.
Example Data
Drag and drop the following data links onto the Weather and Climate Toolkit:
- Daily Drought Indicators from NIDIS/Drought.gov
- Weather Radar (Moore, OK, Tornado Example)
- NOAA/NCEP HRRR CONUS 2.5km Aggregation from Unidata via OPeNDAP
- NOAA/NCEI Climate Atlas Products
- NOAA National Blend of Models
- NOAA MRMS Example
Example Images
User Guide
The Weather and Climate Toolkit (WCT) is an independent software platform that can visualize and export weather and climate data from radar, satellite, model and other sources. These tutorials outline the basics of using the Toolkit, as well as advanced features and data export/import into external GIS tools.
The Weather and Climate Toolkit can be run with a point and click user interface, or from the command-line using the 'command prompt' in Windows or the 'terminal' on Mac and Unix/Linux. Please refer to the separate Command Line Usage Guide for more information and examples.
NOAA's Climate.gov created this helpful article and video introductions to the Weather and Climate Toolkit.
Please contact us at ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Data Guide
View and access NCEI climate data from radar, satellite, and model based sources that are compatible with the toolkit.
Introductory Mapping Tutorial
Instructions for loading data, basic map controls, background controls, overlays, and other basic toolkit functions.
WCT Advanced Viewer Tutorial
Learn to used advanced tools and functionality in the WCT, including dataset-specific options, exporting data for GIS, and WCT configuration options.
Command Line Usage Tutorial
Learn to run the toolkit from a command-line for automatated export and simple grid math functionality.
