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NOAA RTMA analysis, virtual validation report

This dataset validation report plots a sample of values from the NOAA RTMA analysis, virtual dataset over time and across space, comparing where possible to a previously validated reference dataset. It also reports the quantity of unavailable values and their associated timestamps. These analyses are one layer of a multi-layered dataset validation process we perform at dynamical.org and also provide users a preview of the dataset contents.

Report generation start time: 2026-10-19T20:44:17 UTC

Summary

This report reviews hourly Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA) data from May 2, 2017 at 00:00 UTC through October 18, 2026 at 23:00 UTC. Checks covered the presence of source files and variables throughout the archive, plus samples of their values. The notes below describe gaps and interpretation limits; not every value was checked.

What looks good

All available source hours for this expanded-area analysis are included for all 13 variables. Checks confirmed that each stored field points to the correct location in its source file.
All 260 sampled fields were readable. Values read from this dataset also matched an independent reading of the source files in the early and recent full fields checked.
Spatial patterns, units and changes over time are consistent with the source and comparable reference data.

Review notes

There are 111 missing hours across 17 dates, affecting all 13 variables. The analysis files for this expanded geographic area are absent from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) public archive used here; the reason is unconfirmed. Missing files in this archive do not establish that NOAA failed to produce these analyses. See the exact missing hours.
NOAA prepares cloud-ceiling estimates in metres above ground before analysis. See NOAA’s RTMA v2.10.11 code (accessed October 28, 2026). Source metadata labels the field only “Ceiling” in metres. Historical samples are consistent with an above-ground reference, but this has not been verified for every period; this dataset makes no terrain-height adjustment. See the historical checks.
Cloud-ceiling height and visibility limits change in the checked December 3, 2018 samples. From 17:00 to 18:00 UTC, both maxima fall from 20,000 m to 16,000 m. The ceiling minimum rises from 0.1 m to 1 m, and the visibility minimum from 0 m to 1 m. The cause and permanence of this change are unconfirmed (archive chronology). The stored and source values agree exactly at the sampled boundary hours. Source comparisons of these limits covered 26 sampled fields and 22 consecutive hours around the change. In NOAA’s current software, the ceiling maximum can also mean no cloud ceiling.
The two wind components follow the dataset’s map grid, not true east and north. They were checked against the source files and against the dataset’s wind direction, which is measured from true north.

Datasets

Role	Name	ID	Version	URL
Validation	NOAA RTMA analysis, virtual	`noaa-rtma-analysis-virtual`	`v0.1.0`	`s3://dynamical-noaa-rtma/noaa-rtma-analysis-virtual/v0.1.0.icechunk`
Reference	NOAA GEFS analysis	`noaa-gefs-analysis`	`0.1.2`	`s3://dynamical-noaa-gefs/noaa-gefs-analysis/v0.1.2.icechunk/`

Run parameters

Parameter	Value
Validation dataset type	analysis
Validation time range	time 2017-05-02T00:00 → 2026-10-18T23:00
Reference time range	time 2000-01-01T00:00 → 2026-10-19T12:00
Point 1	lat=39.9932, lon=-104.9857
Point 2	lat=35.0104, lon=-97.0039
Spatial comparison time	2026-10-15T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-15T12:00)
Timeseries period	2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00
Store type	virtual — availability manifest-probed; value series sampled

Availability

The plot below shows the availability of each variable over time — light red marks unavailable data, dark green marks present data.

availability heatmap

Variable	Complete positions	Incomplete %	First incomplete	Last incomplete
`cloud_ceiling_height`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`dew_point_temperature_2m`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`geopotential_height_surface`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`pressure_surface`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`specific_humidity_2m`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`temperature_2m`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`total_cloud_cover_atmosphere`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`visibility_surface`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`wind_direction_10m`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`wind_gust_10m`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`wind_speed_10m`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`wind_u_10m`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00
`wind_v_10m`	82857/82968	0.13%	2017-07-11T14:00	2026-09-23T19:00

Unavailable timestamps: unavailable_timestamps.txt

Decode health

260 references decoded successfully: all 13 fields at each of 20 sampled analysis positions out of 82,968. This analysis dataset has no forecast-lead or vertical-level dimension. This is sampled decode health, not an exhaustive value scan.

Per-variable details

`cloud_ceiling_height`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`m`
long_name	Ceiling
short_name	ceil
standard_name	n/a
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	12.6	1.205e+04	2e+04
P2	49.3	1.194e+04	2e+04

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	1	1.056e+04	1.6e+04

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	24.7	1.146e+04	1.6e+04
P2 Validation	37.4	1.306e+04	1.6e+04

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

cloud_ceiling_height — full-period value time series

cloud_ceiling_height — spatial comparison

cloud_ceiling_height — time series comparison

cloud_ceiling_height — availability over append dim

`dew_point_temperature_2m`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`degree_Celsius`
long_name	2 metre dewpoint temperature
short_name	2d
standard_name	dew_point_temperature
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	-21.33	0.5902	17.24
P2	-20.35	10.18	25.66

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-50.19	9.783	27.34

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	-6.87	2.684	9.93
P2 Validation	1.16	13.63	23.87

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

dew_point_temperature_2m — full-period value time series

dew_point_temperature_2m — spatial comparison

dew_point_temperature_2m — time series comparison

dew_point_temperature_2m — availability over append dim

`geopotential_height_surface`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`m`
long_name	Geopotential height
short_name	gh
standard_name	geopotential_height
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	1585	1585	1585
P2	308	308	308

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-81	441.8	4226

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	1585	1585	1585
P2 Validation	308	308	308

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

geopotential_height_surface — full-period value time series

geopotential_height_surface — spatial comparison

geopotential_height_surface — time series comparison

geopotential_height_surface — availability over append dim

`pressure_surface`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`Pa`
long_name	Surface pressure
short_name	sp
standard_name	surface_air_pressure
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	8.206e+04	8.397e+04	8.532e+04
P2	9.609e+04	9.793e+04	9.965e+04

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-15T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	6.09e+04	9.699e+04	1.039e+05
Reference	6.797e+04	9.761e+04	1.028e+05

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	8.303e+04	8.421e+04	8.614e+04
P1 Reference	8.288e+04	8.402e+04	8.595e+04
P2 Validation	9.75e+04	9.831e+04	9.992e+04
P2 Reference	9.747e+04	9.82e+04	9.978e+04

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

pressure_surface — full-period value time series

pressure_surface — time series comparison

pressure_surface — availability over append dim

`specific_humidity_2m`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`1`
long_name	Specific humidity
short_name	q
standard_name	specific_humidity
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0.000832	0.005493	0.01455
P2	0.000767	0.0095	0.02134

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	5.6e-05	0.009061	0.02257

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0.002677	0.005702	0.009093
P2 Validation	0.004175	0.01068	0.01908

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

specific_humidity_2m — full-period value time series

specific_humidity_2m — spatial comparison

specific_humidity_2m — time series comparison

specific_humidity_2m — availability over append dim

`temperature_2m`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`degree_Celsius`
long_name	2 metre temperature
short_name	2t
standard_name	air_temperature
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	-18.38	11.2	32.57
P2	-15.86	17.36	37.19

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-15T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-9.73	13.01	30.46
Reference	-5.844	14.45	30

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0.79	14.6	30.09
P1 Reference	1.367	15.18	29.38
P2 Validation	4.74	20.24	32.32
P2 Reference	5.719	20.37	31.25

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

temperature_2m — full-period value time series

temperature_2m — availability over append dim

`total_cloud_cover_atmosphere`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`percent`
long_name	Total cloud cover
short_name	tcc
standard_name	cloud_area_fraction
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0	35.28	100
P2	0	32.95	100

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-15T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	0	48.31	100
Reference	0	42.08	100

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	mean	max
P1 Validation	37.42	100
P1 Reference	32.34	100
P2 Validation	23.72	100
P2 Reference	22.75	100

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

total_cloud_cover_atmosphere — full-period value time series

total_cloud_cover_atmosphere — spatial comparison

total_cloud_cover_atmosphere — time series comparison

total_cloud_cover_atmosphere — availability over append dim

`visibility_surface`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`m`
long_name	Visibility
short_name	vis
standard_name	visibility_in_air
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	360	1.493e+04	1.753e+04
P2	1290	1.482e+04	1.807e+04

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	1	1.419e+04	1.6e+04

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	2510	1.479e+04	1.6e+04
P2 Validation	1256	1.548e+04	1.6e+04

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

visibility_surface — full-period value time series

visibility_surface — time series comparison

visibility_surface — availability over append dim

`wind_direction_10m`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`degree`
long_name	10 metre wind direction
short_name	10wdir
standard_name	wind_from_direction
step_type	instant
comment	Direction the wind blows from, clockwise from true north.

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0	186.2	359.5
P2	0	174.3	358.9

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	0	170.6	360

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0	167.7	359.7
P2 Validation	0	170.5	360

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

wind_direction_10m — full-period value time series

wind_direction_10m — time series comparison

wind_direction_10m — availability over append dim

`wind_gust_10m`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`m s-1`
long_name	Wind speed (gust)
short_name	gust
standard_name	wind_speed_of_gust
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0.42	5.399	21.29
P2	0.68	5.584	15.26

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	0	6.768	27.15

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0	5.636	14.45
P2 Validation	0.12	5.953	15.05

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

wind_gust_10m — full-period value time series

wind_gust_10m — availability over append dim

`wind_speed_10m`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`m s-1`
long_name	10 metre wind speed
short_name	10si
standard_name	wind_speed
step_type	instant

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0	2.727	12.91
P2	0	3.44	10.57

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	0	4.382	23.8

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0	2.929	10.95
P2 Validation	0	3.414	10.29

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

wind_speed_10m — full-period value time series

wind_speed_10m — availability over append dim

`wind_u_10m`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`m s-1`
long_name	10 metre U wind component
short_name	10u
standard_name	x_wind
step_type	instant
comment	Velocity along the model grid's x dimension, not eastward velocity.

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	-5.04	0.249	12.81
P2	-4.47	-0.3268	7.55

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-15T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-17.63	-0.1206	20.24
Reference	-21.5	-0.1977	15.38

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	-4.45	-0.3093	5.74
P1 Reference	-4.562	-0.02473	5.062
P2 Validation	-6.93	-0.1769	4.73
P2 Reference	-6.375	-0.2388	3.781

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

wind_u_10m — full-period value time series

wind_u_10m — availability over append dim

`wind_v_10m`

Metadata

Field	Value
units	`m s-1`
long_name	10 metre V wind component
short_name	10v
standard_name	y_wind
step_type	instant
comment	Velocity along the model grid's y dimension, not northward velocity.

Point time series — 2017-05-02T00:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00, sampled lead=None

Point	min	mean	max
P1	-8.46	-0.4972	9.2
P2	-7.52	1.006	8.47

Spatial — 2026-10-15T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-15T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-18.84	-1.108	20.92
Reference	-15.75	-1.192	24.5

Temporal — 2026-10-08T23:00 - 2026-10-18T23:00

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	-10.93	-0.2384	8.94
P1 Reference	-10.38	-0.1407	6.938
P2 Validation	-10.29	0.859	8.04
P2 Reference	-11.25	1.688	8.75

Availability — 82857 of 82968 positions complete (incomplete 2017-07-11T14:00 → 2026-09-23T19:00)

wind_v_10m — full-period value time series

wind_v_10m — availability over append dim