GribStream Blog
RTMA Rapid Update (15-minute) CONUS actuals now available
GribStream added NOAA RTMA Rapid Update (rtma2p5_ru): 15-minute near-real-time surface analyses on the 2.5 km CONUS NDFD grid.
On February 5, 2026, we added NOAA RTMA Rapid Update to GribStream.
This is a sub-hourly actuals feed: surface analyses on a 15-minute cadence for the 2.5 km CONUS NDFD grid.
About RTMA Rapid Update
RTMA Rapid Update is commonly published under the rtma2p5_ru prefix and provides near-real-time analyses intended for high-temporal-resolution monitoring workflows.
- GribStream code:
rtmaru(model page) - Coverage: CONUS
- Resolution: 2.5 km Lambert grid (NDFD)
- Update cadence: 15 minutes
- Lead time: analysis (
horizon=0)
If you prefer the standard hourly RTMA feed, use RTMA. For a higher-quality analysis of record with additional latency, use URMA.
Why this matters
Hourly "actuals" are often too coarse for operations that care about intrahour ramps and fast-changing boundary layer conditions.
15-minute RTMA analyses are useful for:
- Power + renewables: intrahour ramp monitoring and real-time forecasting QA.
- Aviation: ceilings, visibility, winds, gusts, and fast surface transitions.
- Ops dashboards: higher-resolution situational awareness with minimal lag.
- Verification + monitoring: sharper timing when comparing models to "truth-like" fields.
How to query it
Use the standard endpoints:
/api/v2/rtmaru/timeseries(alias:/history) for analysis time series/api/v2/rtmaru/runsif you want the "run history" view (RTMA analyses arehorizon=0)
For payload structure, see Quick-start. To browse available variables and copy selectors, use the inventory on the RTMA Rapid Update model page.