- Let's find some weather data and explore the format available by copying the NOAA data link into a web browser http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/ or just select the link here: NOAA Data.
- Select the Mapping Tools Application box then All Maps tab, then choose "GHCN-Daily" all in a separate window.
- Use polygon to select a defined area, check "GHCND" under "GHCN Daily", and scroll/zoom with the Polygon tool that allows for selecting areas outside PA boundaries for inclusion. This is done in order to create a better interpolation for SnowDepth, TMIN TMAX
- Selection will bring up all weather stations in area. Look under "Period of Record to determine whether it has data for Jan. 1 1995 Jan. 31 2005 If 1 year out of the 11 is missing, save it. Greater than 1, skip it. Select all that match dates and click "Get Selected Data"
- On next page, make "Output date range" as 01 Jan 1995 to 01 Jan 2005 and select the "Custom GHCN-Daily CSV" box and select continue.
Then select:
SnowDepth (under Precipitation)
TMIN (under Air Temperature)
TMAX (under Air Temperature)
Be sure to include Include Station Name and Geographic Location (Lat Long Elev) - Wait for email with link then click and Save file as .csv
Below are specific instructions when retrieving data for a specific station with known GHCND code:- Go to NOAA Climate Data Online: NOAA Data
- Select data search Enter GHCND code (but don't include "GHCND:" portion of code in search term) Select "Daily GHCND" as data set
- If dates match desired range (see 4), select station and hit continue If not, remain on page and enter new GHCND code in search box
- Start date for this project: Jan. 1, 1995 End date: Jan. 31, 2005
- Select "Custom GHCN Daily CSV" format option, hit continue
- Under Precipitation, select PRCP, SNOW, SNWD
- If have Air Temperature, select TMAX, TMIN
- Select Station Name in "Additional Output Options" and hit continue
- You will receive two emails - one confirming order and one with link to data
- Click link, save data as .csv file with Station Name as file name
- Click on Data Search, repeat process until have data for all weather stations