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NOAA RTMA-RU analysis, virtual validation report

This dataset validation report plots a sample of values from the NOAA RTMA-RU 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: 2026-10-27T02:57:28 UTC

Summary

This report reviews 15-minute Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis Rapid Update (RTMA-RU) data from December 13, 2017 through October 20, 2026. Checks covered the presence of expected variables in available source files throughout the archive, plus samples of their values. The notes below describe gaps and interpretation limits; not every value was checked.

What looks good

Every expected variable from each available source file is included throughout the 15-minute archive. See the archive checks.
Sampled values matched an independent reader of the source files. Comparisons covered 61 complete spatial fields and checks at six selected times, including the start of total cloud cover. See the source comparisons.
All 254 sampled fields were readable across 20 selected times. The checks do not cover every value in the archive.

Review notes

There are 451 missing source files. The expected files for these 15-minute intervals were absent from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) public RTMA archive when checked; the reason is unconfirmed. See the exact missing times.
Total cloud cover starts on July 28, 2020 at 00:00 UTC.
Cloud-ceiling height and visibility limits differ between the sampled periods. On July 6, 2018 at 00:15 UTC, ceiling height ranges from 0.1 m to 20,000 m and visibility from 0 m to 20,000 m. On April 15, 2020 at 05:45 UTC and October 20, 2026 at 23:45 UTC, both range from 1 m to 16,000 m. The exact changeover and its cause are unconfirmed. See the sampled source values.
NOAA prepares cloud-ceiling estimates in metres above ground before analysis. See NOAA’s RTMA v2.10.11 code and its rapid-update configuration (accessed October 28, 2026). Source metadata labels the field only “Ceiling” in metres. The height reference has not been verified for every historical period; this dataset makes no terrain-height adjustment.
The two wind components follow the dataset’s map grid, not true east and north.
The whole-period point plots are widely spaced samples. They use 201 on-the-hour samples, 388 hours apart, rather than every 15-minute interval.

Datasets

Role	Name	ID	Version	URL
Validation	NOAA RTMA-RU analysis, virtual	`noaa-rtma-ru-analysis-virtual`	`v0.1.0`	`s3://dynamical-noaa-rtma/noaa-rtma-ru-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 2017-12-13T00:00 → 2026-10-20T23:45
Reference time range	time 2000-01-01T00:00 → 2026-10-26T12:00
Point 1	lat=39.9932, lon=-104.9857
Point 2	lat=33.9994, lon=-73.0068
Spatial comparison time	2026-10-19T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-19T12:00)
Timeseries period	2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45
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`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`dew_point_temperature_2m`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`geopotential_height_surface`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`pressure_surface`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`specific_humidity_2m`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`temperature_2m`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`total_cloud_cover_atmosphere`	218477/310464	29.63%	2017-12-13T00:00	2026-09-14T16:45
`visibility_surface`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`wind_direction_10m`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`wind_gust_10m`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`wind_speed_10m`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`wind_u_10m`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45
`wind_v_10m`	310013/310464	0.15%	2017-12-13T00:30	2026-09-14T16:45

Unavailable timestamps: unavailable_timestamps.txt

Decode health

254 references decoded successfully across 20 sampled quarter-hour positions in the 310,464-position archive.

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	21.4	1.233e+04	2e+04
P2	39.9	1.184e+04	2e+04

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	1	1.251e+04	1.6e+04

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	28.8	1.179e+04	1.6e+04
P2 Validation	175.3	9786	1.6e+04

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	-18.28	-0.3293	16.17
P2	2.54	17.66	27.01

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-36.64	7.057	27.42

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	-15.4	2.038	10.99
P2 Validation	17.35	20.8	24.61

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	1585	1585	1585
P2	0	0	0

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-81	441.8	4226

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	1585	1585	1585
P2 Validation	0	0	0

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	8.248e+04	8.398e+04	8.516e+04
P2	9.961e+04	1.017e+05	1.032e+05

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-19T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	6.247e+04	9.697e+04	1.037e+05
Reference	6.822e+04	9.761e+04	1.038e+05

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	8.299e+04	8.432e+04	8.613e+04
P1 Reference	8.288e+04	8.414e+04	8.595e+04
P2 Validation	1.009e+05	1.016e+05	1.025e+05
P2 Reference	1.009e+05	1.016e+05	1.025e+05

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0.001078	0.005095	0.0136
P2	0.004464	0.01319	0.02212

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	0.000244	0.007588	0.0228

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0.001367	0.005496	0.009764
P2 Validation	0.01218	0.01527	0.01914

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	-15.81	11.49	35.8
P2	10.76	21.74	29.19

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-19T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-9.9	10.9	30.74
Reference	-6.938	13.39	30

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0.52	13.1	29.34
P1 Reference	1.367	13.63	28.88
P2 Validation	20.07	24.09	26.37
P2 Reference	19.88	23.89	26.38

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0	39.83	100
P2	0	51.93	100

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-19T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	0	41.85	100
Reference	0	43.98	100

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	mean	max
P1 Validation	39.47	100
P1 Reference	36.08	100
P2 Validation	53.61	100
P2 Reference	54.83	100

Availability — 218477 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:00 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	76	1.516e+04	2e+04
P2	580	1.497e+04	1.998e+04

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	1	1.513e+04	1.6e+04

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	1196	1.484e+04	1.6e+04
P2 Validation	1199	1.432e+04	1.6e+04

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0	325.5	357.1
P2	4.2	230.9	357.6

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	0	46.95	360

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0	37.77	359.9
P2 Validation	0.5	294.5	359.3

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0.05	5.248	16.1
P2	1.66	9.451	31.6

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	0	6.428	29.46

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0.47	4.827	15.32
P2 Validation	0.64	12.57	28.19

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	0	2.655	10.23
P2	1.21	7.564	23.35

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference not available)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	0	4.486	22.75

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	0	2.745	12.23
P2 Validation	0.17	10.31	22.58

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	-6.04	0.1855	10.16
P2	-11.01	1.349	18.56

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-19T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-20.22	-0.3779	16.8
Reference	-23	-0.454	18.25

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	-5.01	-0.4706	5.91
P1 Reference	-4.562	-0.5538	4.062
P2 Validation	-14.24	1.384	11.94
P2 Reference	-14.5	0.9561	12.38

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

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 — 2017-12-13T00:00 - 2026-10-20T23:45, sampled

Point	min	mean	max
P1	-5.47	-0.1334	6.51
P2	-17.66	1.119	16.55

Spatial — 2026-10-19T12:00 (reference at 2026-10-19T12:00)

Source	min	mean	max
Validation	-22.09	-0.8078	15.42
Reference	-22.75	-0.7699	17.5

Temporal — 2026-10-10T23:45 - 2026-10-20T23:45

Source	min	mean	max
P1 Validation	-12.22	-0.4303	9.06
P1 Reference	-10.38	-0.4352	6.938
P2 Validation	-21.28	-2.719	14.49
P2 Reference	-19.75	-2.884	12.25

Availability — 310013 of 310464 positions complete (incomplete 2017-12-13T00:30 → 2026-09-14T16:45)

wind_v_10m — full-period value time series

wind_v_10m — availability over append dim