INCA-CH seamless nowcasting system, example data

INCA-CH seamless nowcasting system A new generation of nowcasting systems is in development at MeteoSwiss (since 2025). For this reason only a subset of the current INCA-CH parameters will be available trough our open data provision. During the transition phase to the new system data push deliveries of all current parameters will be guaranteed only for already existing users. However, a change is to be planned (probably in 2027): parameters will be renamed, added and/or removed. Information on this will follow as soon as it becomes available. Parameter Description Units Update frequency Forecast range Availability after obs. time** Output granularity RR Precipitation quantitative(based on CombiPrecip) mm/h 10 min 0-6 h 7-10 min 10 min RR_ext* Precipitation quantitative extended forecast(based on CombiPrecip) mm/h 10 min 0-28/33h 8-11 min 10 min RP Precipitation qualitative(based on radar only) mm/h 5 min 0-6 h 4-5 min 5 min RP_ext* Precipitation qualitative extended forecast(based on radar only) mm/h 5 min 0-28/33h 5-6 min 5 min RS Snowfall quantitative (based on CombiPrecip) mm/h 10 min 0-6 h 5-6 min 10 min RS_ext* Snowfall quantitative extended forecast (based on CombiPrecip) mm/h 10 min 0-28/33h 6-7 min 10 min PN Snowfall qualitative (based on radar only) mm/h 5 min 0-6 h 5-6 min 5 min PN_ext* Snowfall qualitative extended forecast (based on radar only) mm/h 5 min 0-28/33h 6-7 min 5 min PT Precipitation type for RR:rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only) classes (0-5) 10 min 0-6 h 7-10 min 10 min PT_ext* Precipitation type for RR_ext, extended forecast:rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only) classes (0-5) 10 min 0-28/33h 8-11 min 10 min NT Precipitation type for RP:rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only) classes (0-5) 5 min 0-6 h 4-5 min 5 min NT_ext* Precipitation type for RP_ext extended forecast:rain, snow, snow-rain, freezing rain, rain and hail (hail first 30min only) classes (0-5) 5 min 0-28/33h 5-6 min 5 min SH_BK_24, SH_BK_12 New snow accumulation: past 24h or 12h cm 10 min 0 h 15-20 min - SH_FC_06 6 h new snow accumulation forecast cm 10 min 6 h 15-20 min - ZS Snowfall line m 10 min 0-6 h 13-16 min 60 min Z0 Zero degree isotherm m 10 min 0-6 h 13-16 min 60 min FF, WG, DD, UU, VV Wind speed, wind gust and wind direction:hourly mean and hourly max for wind gust m/s, ° 10 min 0-6 h 17-19 min 60 min FF_10min, WG_10min, DD_10min, UU_10min, VV_10min Wind speed, wind gust and wind direction:10 min mean and 10 min max for wind gust m/s, ° 10 min 0-6h 17-19 min 10 min TT 2 m temperature °C 10 min 0-6 h 13-16 min 60 min TT_ext 2 m temperature extended forecast °C 10 min 0-28/33 h 14-17 min 60 min TD, RH 2 m dew point and humidity °C, % 10 min 0-6 h 13-16 min 60 min TD_ext, RH_ext 2 m dew point and humidity extended forecast °C, % 10 min 0-28/33 h 14-17 min 60 min TG Soil surface temperature °C 10 min 0-6 h 13-16 min 60 min CT, CL, CM, CH Cloud cover: total, low, medium, high % 10 min 0-6h 5-10 min 10 min SU Relative sunshine duration % 10 min 0-6h 5-10 min 10 min LI Lightning counts analysis #flash/ 7x7 km²/10 min 10 min 0 h 5 min - CN Convective inhibition J/kg 10 min 0 h 14-17 min - CP Convective available potential energy J/kg 10 min 0 h 14-17 min - nx = 710ny = 640resolution = 1000 [m] Coordinates of lower left pixel in Swiss Coordinates CH1903/LV03:x0 = 255500 [m]y0 = -159500 [m] Example how to read INCA netcdf data: https://inca-examples.readthedocs.io/ INCA-CH digital elevation Model here: https://zenodo.org/record/7614565