Deprecation note: NBM v5 is now operational in the permanent GribStream archive under nbmgu. For NBM v5 production workflows, use nbmgu; runs before 2026-05-05 12:00 UTC contain the previous operational NBM version, and runs from 2026-05-05 12:00 UTC onward use NBM v5. The nbmpar* datasets are reserved for future experimental NBM iterations if NOAA publishes them through the parallel feed.
Description
Public NBM parallel feed on the Guam core grid, exposed separately from operational Guam guidance for western Pacific comparison work while NOAA keeps the parallel bucket available. Use nbmgu for operational NBM v5 production workflows.
The upstream bucket is noaa-nbm-para-pds. GribStream keeps the parallel feed under dedicated dataset codes so you can compare it to the operational NBM family instead of swapping existing archives underneath current workflows.
NBM v5 is more than a parameter refresh. NOAA's July 15, 2025 change notice highlights one especially visible change for API users: most hourly guidance extends from 36 hours to 48 hours, which matters if you use NBM as an hourly time series rather than just a daily summary.
NOAA also revised the blend itself, including more quantile-mapped processing for key temperature, moisture, and precipitation guidance, a percentile-picking approach for deterministic wind and gusts, higher-resolution ECMWF and Canadian inputs, and ECAIFS as a new input for several core fields. See PNS 25-45, winter configuration notes, and NBM Versions.
For Guam, NOAA highlights the longer hourly window, new QM 10-meter wind and gust guidance, and the broader apparent-temperature and fire-weather additions in the v5 release.
Detail
Archive window: Last 5 days
Source: NOAA NBM parallel public bucket on AWS Open Data.
Coverage: Guam core grid.
Update cadence: Hourly cycles.
Lead time: 1-264 hours where published, with most hourly guidance extending through hour 48 in NBM v5.
Resolution: ~2.5 km.
Status: Deprecated for NBM v5 production use; use nbmgu for operational NBM v5.
Experimental: This parallel dataset is experimental. Fields, cadence, and retention can change.
Accumulated precipitation represents the total water-equivalent amount of rain and snow during the output period. It is a primary field for hydrologic impacts and event totals.
Units: kg/m^2.
Use with the model time interval to interpret totals and compare to gauges.
Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) quantifies buoyant energy available to rising air parcels. Larger values generally imply stronger potential updrafts and greater convective intensity.
Units: J/kg.
Often used with CIN and lifting mechanisms to assess thunderstorm potential.
Ceiling height is the altitude of the lowest cloud base that covers a significant portion of the sky. It is a key aviation and surface-visibility metric.
Hourly maximum simulated reflectivity at 1 km AGL captures the strongest modeled reflectivity near the surface. It is used to identify peak convective intensity and heavy precipitation cores.
Units: dBZ.
Level
Info
Horizon
Introduced
Selector
1000 m above ground
1h-48h
5 days ago
{"name":"MAXREF","level":"1000 m above ground","info":""}
Predominant weather encodes the most likely weather type for the grid cell and valid period. It is used for compact categorical weather guidance such as rain, snow, ice, fog, or thunder-related outcomes.
Units: coded.
Code meanings depend on the model or product's weather-category mapping.
Wet bulb globe temperature combines temperature, humidity, radiation, and wind effects into a single heat-stress metric. It is commonly used for outdoor exposure and occupational heat-risk assessment.
Units: K.
Use it as a composite heat-stress indicator rather than a standard air-temperature field.