Radar Operations Center

NWS WSR-88D - Level III Event Data

What are Level III data?

Level III data are the output product data of the Radar Product Generator. The products assist forecasters and others in weather analysis, forecasts, warnings and weather tracking. The pre-defined list of products are provided electronically in near real-time to the NWS Radar Product Central Collection Dissemination Service (RPCCDS). Click here to read more. The products are archived by the National Climatic Data Center and available via FTP download by clicking here.

Level III data are continuously transmitted and archived from 156 operational WSR-88Ds including all DOC and DOT WSR-88D systems, and all but four of the DoD non-CONUS WSR-88D systems. The interface control document describing the Level III format (ICD For RPG to CLASS 1 User - Build 12.1) is available here.

Changes That May Impact RPCCDS Users

UPDATED: Briefing Slides Used at 8/5/14 FOS Meeting (PDF)

UPDATED: Technical Implementation Notice 09-41 (Amended) as of 26 November 2013 (PDF)

NEW: Technical Implementation Notice 13-37 as of 30 October 2013 (PDF):

Software Changes That May Impact RPCCDS Users updated July 24, 2012 (PDF)

NWS WSR-88D Level III Data Collection and Distribution Network Information

View the Current Level III Radar Site Status		FTP Gateway Directory and File Description Information
Download RECENT Level III data from the Radar Product Central Collection Dissemination Service's FTP Gateway		Download ARCHIVED Level III data from NCDC NEXRAD Data Inventory