zenodoopen

INCA-CH seamless nowcasting system, example data

INCA-CH seamless nowcasting system A new generation of nowcasting systems is in development at MeteoSwiss (since 2025). For this reason only a subset of the current INCA-CH parameters will be available trough our <a href="http://opendatadocs.meteoswiss.ch/">open data provision</a>.  During the transition phase to the new system data push deliveries of all current parameters will be guaranteed only for already existing users. However, a change is to be planned (probably in 2027):  parameters will be renamed, added and/or removed.  Information on this will follow as soon as it becomes available. <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> Parameter </td> <td> Description </td> <td> Units </td> <td> Update frequency </td> <td> Forecast range </td> <td> Availability after obs. time** </td> <td> Output granularity </td> </tr> <tr> <td> RR </td> <td> Precipitation quantitative (based on CombiPrecip) </td> <td> mm/h </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 7-10 min </td> <td> 10 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> RR_ext* </td> <td> Precipitation quantitative extended forecast (based on CombiPrecip) </td> <td>  mm/h </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-28/33h </td> <td> 8-11 min </td> <td> 10 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> RP </td> <td> Precipitation qualitative (based on radar only) </td> <td> mm/h </td> <td> 5 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 4-5 min </td> <td> 5 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> RP_ext* </td> <td> Precipitation qualitative extended forecast (based on radar only) </td> <td> mm/h </td> <td>  5 min </td> <td> 0-28/33h </td> <td> 5-6 min </td> <td> 5 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> RS </td> <td> Snowfall quantitative (based on CombiPrecip) </td> <td> mm/h </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 5-6 min </td> <td> 10 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> RS_ext* </td> <td> Snowfall quantitative extended forecast (based on CombiPrecip) </td> <td> mm/h </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-28/33h </td> <td> 6-7 min  </td> <td> 10 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> PN </td> <td> Snowfall qualitative (based on radar only) </td> <td> mm/h </td> <td> 5 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 5-6 min </td> <td> 5 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> PN_ext* </td> <td> Snowfall qualitative extended forecast (based on radar only) </td> <td> mm/h </td> <td> 5 min </td> <td> 0-28/33h </td> <td> 6-7 min </td> <td> 5 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> PT </td> <td> Precipitation type for RR: rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only) </td> <td> classes (0-5) </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 7-10 min </td> <td> 10 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> PT_ext* </td> <td> Precipitation type for RR_ext, extended forecast: rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only) </td> <td> classes (0-5) </td> <td> 10 min  </td> <td> 0-28/33h </td> <td> 8-11 min </td> <td> 10 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> NT </td> <td> Precipitation type for RP: rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only) </td> <td> classes (0-5) </td> <td> 5 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 4-5 min </td> <td> 5 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> NT_ext* </td> <td> Precipitation type for RP_ext extended forecast: rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only) </td> <td> classes (0-5) </td> <td> 5 min  </td> <td> 0-28/33h </td> <td> 5-6 min </td> <td> 5 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> SH_BK_24, SH_BK_12 </td> <td> New snow accumulation: past 24h or 12h </td> <td> cm </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0 h </td> <td> 15-20 min </td> <td> - </td> </tr> <tr> <td> SH_FC_06 </td> <td> 6 h new snow accumulation forecast </td> <td> cm </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 6 h </td> <td> 15-20 min </td> <td> - </td> </tr> <tr> <td> ZS </td> <td> Snowfall line </td> <td> m </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 13-16 min </td> <td> 60 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Z0 </td> <td> Zero degree isotherm </td> <td> m </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 13-16 min </td> <td> 60 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> FF, WG, DD, UU, VV </td> <td> Wind speed, wind gust and wind direction: hourly mean and hourly max for wind gust </td> <td> m/s, ° </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 17-19 min </td> <td> 60 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> FF_10min, WG_10min, DD_10min, UU_10min, VV_10min </td> <td> Wind speed, wind gust and wind direction: 10 min mean and 10 min max for wind gust </td> <td> m/s, ° </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6h </td> <td> 17-19 min </td> <td> 10 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> TT </td> <td> 2 m temperature </td> <td> °C </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 13-16 min </td> <td> 60 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> TT_ext </td> <td> 2 m temperature extended forecast </td> <td> °C </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-28/33 h </td> <td> 14-17 min </td> <td> 60 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> TD, RH </td> <td> 2 m dew point and humidity </td> <td> °C, % </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 13-16 min </td> <td> 60 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> TD_ext, RH_ext </td> <td> 2 m dew point and humidity extended forecast </td> <td> °C, % </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-28/33 h </td> <td> 14-17 min </td> <td> 60 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> TG </td> <td> Soil surface temperature </td> <td> °C </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6 h </td> <td> 13-16 min </td> <td> 60 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> CT, CL, CM, CH </td> <td> Cloud cover: total, low, medium, high </td> <td> % </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6h  </td> <td> 5-10 min </td> <td> 10 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> SU </td> <td> Relative sunshine duration </td> <td>  % </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0-6h  </td> <td> 5-10 min </td> <td> 10 min </td> </tr> <tr> <td> LI </td> <td> Lightning counts analysis </td> <td>  #flash/ 7x7 km²/10 min </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0 h </td> <td> 5 min </td> <td>  - </td> </tr> <tr> <td> CN </td> <td> Convective inhibition </td> <td> J/kg </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0 h </td> <td> 14-17 min </td> <td> - </td> </tr> <tr> <td> CP </td> <td> Convective available potential energy </td> <td> J/kg </td> <td> 10 min </td> <td> 0 h </td> <td> 14-17 min </td> <td> - </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> nx = 710 ny = 640 resolution = 1000 [m] Coordinates of lower left pixel in Swiss Coordinates <a href="https://epsg.io/21781">CH1903/LV03</a>: x0 = 255500 [m] y0 = -159500  [m] Example how to read INCA netcdf data:<a href="https://inca-examples.readthedocs.io/"> https://inca-examples.readthedocs.io/ </a> INCA-CH digital elevation Model here: <a href="https://zenodo.org/record/7614565">https://zenodo.org/record/7614565</a>

ShareScore

32/100

Overall dataset sharing score

Score breakdown

These five areas show where the dataset supports — or may limit — practical reuse.

Stewardship: 8
Harmonization: 4
Access: 16
Reuse readiness: 0
Engagement: 4

Topics

INCA Nowcasting Precipitation Temperature and humidity Precipitation type Cloud coverage (low, medium, high)Relative sunshine duration Snow Wind (mean, gust, direction)Snow limit Zero degree isotherm