Near-surface level collection Met Office global deterministic 10km forecast

This collection offers 48 parameters at near-surface level from the Met Office global deterministic 10km forecast. This is a numerical weather prediction forecast for the whole globe, with a resolution of approximately 0.09 degrees i.e. 10km (2,560 x 1,920 grid points).

The data is available as NetCDF files. It's offered on a free, unsupported basis, so we don't recommend using it for any critical business purposes.

## Data collection height
There are 3 forecast heights used within the near-surface this collection:
* Surface: the default collection height
* Screen level: 1.5m above the surface
* Wind parameters: 10m above the surface

## Timesteps
For most parameters, the following time steps are available, see exceptions below:
* every hour from 0 to 54 hours
* every 3 hours from 57 to 144 hours
* every 6 hours from 150 to 168 hours

Exceptions (for `accumulation`, `min`, `max` and `mean` parameters):
* Height of orography (height_of_orography) is only available at 0H
* Hourly latent heat flux at surface mean (latent_heat_flux_at_surface_mean-PT01H) is only available every hour from 1 to 54 hours
* 3H latent heat flux at surface mean (latent_heat_flux_at_surface_mean-PT03H) is only available every three hours from 57 to 144 hours
* 6H latent heat flux at surface mean (latent_heat_flux_at_surface_mean-PT06H) is only available every six hours from 150 to 168 hours
* Hourly precipitation accumulation (precipitation_accumulation-PT01H) is only available every hour from 1 to 54 hours
* 3H precipitation accumulation (precipitation_accumulation-PT03H) is only available every three hours from 57 to 144 hours
* 6H precipitation accumulation (precipitation_accumulation-PT06H) is only available every six hours from 150 to 168 hours
* Radiation flux in longwave downward at surface (radiation_flux_in_longwave_downward_at_surface) has six hourly timesteps from 150 to 162 hours
* Radiation flux in uv downward at surface (radiation_flux_in_uv_downward_at_surface) has three hourly timesteps from 0 to 144 hours and six hourly timesteps from 150 to 162 hours
* Hourly rainfall accumulation (rainfall_accumulation-PT01H) is only available every hour from 1 to 54 hours
* 3H rainfall accumulation (rainfall_accumulation-PT03H) is only available every three hours from 57 to 144 hours
* 6H rainfall accumulation (rainfall_accumulation-PT06H) is only available every six hours from 150 to 168 hours 
* Hourly rainfall rate from convection max (rainfall_rate_from_convection_max-PT01H) is only available every hour from 1 to 54 hours
* 3H rainfall rate from convection max (rainfall_rate_from_convection_max-PT03H) is only available every three hours from 57 to 144 hours
* 6H rainfall rate from convection max (rainfall_rate_from_convection_max-PT06H) is only available every six hours from 150 to 168 hours
* Hourly snowfall rate from convection max (snowfall_rate_from_convection_max-PT01H) is only available every hour from 1 to 54 hours
* 3H snowfall rate from convection max (snowfall_rate_from_convection_max-PT03H) is only available every three hours from 57 to 144 hours
* 6H snowfall rate from convection max (snowfall_rate_from_convection_max-PT06H) is only available every six hours from 150 to 168 hours
* Hourly snowfall rate from convection mean (snowfall_rate_from_convection_mean-PT01H) is only available every hour from 1 to 54 hours
* 3H snowfall rate from convection mean (snowfall_rate_from_convection_mean-PT03H) is only available every three hours from 57 to 144 hours
* 6H snowfall rate from convection mean (snowfall_rate_from_convection_mean-PT06H) is only available every six hours from 150 to 168 hours
* Hourly temperature at screen level max (temperature_at_screen_level_max-PT01H) is only available every hour from 1 to 54 hours
* 3H temperature at screen level max (temperature_at_screen_level_max-PT03H) is only available every three hours from 57 to 144 hours
* 6H temperature at screen level max (temperature_at_screen_level_max-PT06H) is only available every six hours from 150 to 168 hours
* Hourly temperature at screen level min (temperature_at_screen_level_min-PT01H) is only available every hour from 1 to 54 hours
* 3H remperature at screen level min (temperature_at_screen_level_min-PT03H) is only available every three hours from 57 to 144 hours
* 6H temperature at screen level min (temperature_at_screen_level_min-PT06H) is only available every six hours from 150 to 168 hours
* Hourly wind gust at 10m max (wind_gust_at_10m_max-PT01H) is only available every hour from 1 to 54 hours 
* 3H wind gust at 10m max (wind_gust_at_10m_max-PT03H) is only available every three hours from 3 to 144 hours
* 6H wind gust at 10m max (wind_gust_at_10m_max-PT06H) is only available every six hours from 54 to 168 hours

## Update Frequency
The model is run four times each day, with forecast reference times of 00:00, 06:00, 12:00 and 18:00 (UTC).

The runs at 00:00 and 12:00 provide data for the next 168 hours. The runs at 06:00 and 18:00 provide data for the next 67 hours.

The forecast reference time represents the nominal data time or start time of a model forecast run, rather than the time when the data is available.

## Archive length and latency
As of December 2025, the archive contains data from December 2023 onwards. Forecasts will continue to be available for at least two years from their data date.

The data is typically available 6 hours after the model run time.

## Technical specs
The data is available as NetCDF files. NetCDF (Network Common Data Form) is an interface for array-orientated data access and a library that supports the interface. It is composed of 3 components:
* Variables store the data 
* Dimensions give relevant dimension information for the variables
* Attributes provide auxiliary information about the variables or dataset itself 

NetCDF is used within the atmospheric and oceanic science communities and is network transparent, allowing for it to be accessed by computers that store integers, characters and floating-point numbers.

Iris supports NetCDF files through reading, writing and handling. Iris implements a model based on the CF conventions, giving a format-agnostic interface for working with data.

[Find further support on using Iris with NetCDF files.](https://scitools-iris.readthedocs.io/en/stable/)

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## How to cite
Met Office global deterministic 10km forecast was accessed on DATE from the Microsoft Planetary Computer (https://zenodo.org/records/7261897).

## License
British Crown copyright 2023-2025, the Met Office, is licensed under [CC BY-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en).

## Providers
[Met Office](https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/)

See all datasets managed by [Met Office.](https://planetarycomputer.microsoft.com/catalog?filter=met+office)

## Contact
[servicedesk@metoffice.gov.uk](mailto:servicedesk@metoffice.gov.uk). Service desk is only available Mon – Fri, 09:00 until 17:00 UTC (-1 hour during BST). 

As a non-operational service we aim to respond to any service support enquiries within 3-5 business days.