DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6470725
title: INCA-CH seamless nowcasting system, example data

description: 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 open data provision.  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.






Parameter



Description



Units



Update frequency



Forecast range



Availability after obs. time**



Output granularity





RR



Precipitation quantitative(based on CombiPrecip)



mm/h



10 min



0-6 h



7-10 min



10 min





RR_ext*



Precipitation quantitative extended forecast(based on CombiPrecip)



 mm/h



10 min



0-28/33h



8-11 min



10 min





RP



Precipitation qualitative(based on radar only)



mm/h



5 min



0-6 h



4-5 min



5 min





RP_ext*



Precipitation qualitative extended forecast(based on radar only)



mm/h



 5 min



0-28/33h



5-6 min



5 min





RS



Snowfall quantitative (based on CombiPrecip)



mm/h



10 min



0-6 h



5-6 min



10 min





RS_ext*



Snowfall quantitative extended forecast (based on CombiPrecip)



mm/h



10 min



0-28/33h



6-7 min 



10 min





PN



Snowfall qualitative (based on radar only)



mm/h



5 min



0-6 h



5-6 min



5 min





PN_ext*



Snowfall qualitative extended forecast (based on radar only)



mm/h



5 min



0-28/33h



6-7 min



5 min





PT



Precipitation type for RR:rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only)



classes (0-5)



10 min



0-6 h



7-10 min



10 min





PT_ext*



Precipitation type for RR_ext, extended forecast:rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only)



classes (0-5)



10 min 



0-28/33h



8-11 min



10 min





NT



Precipitation type for RP:rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only)



classes (0-5)



5 min



0-6 h



4-5 min



5 min





NT_ext*



Precipitation type for RP_ext extended forecast:rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only)



classes (0-5)



5 min 



0-28/33h



5-6 min



5 min





SH_BK_24, SH_BK_12



New snow accumulation: past 24h or 12h



cm



10 min



0 h



15-20 min



-





SH_FC_06



6 h new snow accumulation forecast



cm



10 min



6 h



15-20 min



-





ZS



Snowfall line



m



10 min



0-6 h



13-16 min



60 min





Z0



Zero degree isotherm



m



10 min



0-6 h



13-16 min



60 min





FF, WG, DD, UU, VV



Wind speed, wind gust and wind direction:hourly mean and hourly max for wind gust



m/s, °



10 min



0-6 h



17-19 min



60 min





FF_10min, WG_10min, DD_10min, UU_10min, VV_10min



Wind speed, wind gust and wind direction:10 min mean and 10 min max for wind gust



m/s, °



10 min



0-6h



17-19 min



10 min





TT



2 m temperature



°C



10 min



0-6 h



13-16 min



60 min





TT_ext



2 m temperature extended forecast



°C



10 min



0-28/33 h



14-17 min



60 min





TD, RH



2 m dew point and humidity



°C, %



10 min



0-6 h



13-16 min



60 min





TD_ext, RH_ext



2 m dew point and humidity extended forecast



°C, %



10 min



0-28/33 h



14-17 min



60 min





TG



Soil surface temperature



°C



10 min



0-6 h



13-16 min



60 min





CT, CL, CM, CH



Cloud cover: total, low, medium, high



%



10 min



0-6h 



5-10 min



10 min





SU



Relative sunshine duration



 %



10 min



0-6h 



5-10 min



10 min





LI



Lightning counts analysis



 #flash/ 7x7 km²/10 min



10 min



0 h



5 min



 -





CN



Convective inhibition



J/kg



10 min



0 h



14-17 min



-





CP



Convective available potential energy



J/kg



10 min



0 h



14-17 min



-





nx = 710ny = 640resolution = 1000 [m]

Coordinates of lower left pixel in Swiss Coordinates CH1903/LV03:x0 = 255500 [m]y0 = -159500  [m]

Example how to read INCA netcdf data: https://inca-examples.readthedocs.io/ 

INCA-CH digital elevation Model here: https://zenodo.org/record/7614565