SC-MINT Webinar on WMO FM301 radar data format

News
13 July 2026
SC-MINT webinar on 7 July 2026 showcased the WMO FM301 Weather Radar Data Standard and Compliance Checker, supporting consistent implementation and interoperability across the global radar community. 
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Weather radar on a tower transmits signals; nearby, a screen displays a color weather map with a large storm. Text reads "FM301 Compliant Data Standard.
AI-Generated/WMO

1. Background:

FM301 is a profile defined by WMO for use with the WMO climate and forecast extensions to the NetCDF Climate and Forecasting metadata conventions. Together with the underlying NetCDF file format, FM301 establishes a file-based implementation of the WMO Information Model for Radial Radar Data, and the associated Data Model. 

FM301–CfRadial2 represents the convergence between two existing de facto standards, ODIM_H5 and previous versions of CfRadial, leveraging the advantages of both. Files in the FM301 format are “self-describing”, which means they can be understood without the need for external information. This is an advantage for international exchange of data. This also eases the use of radar data in climate-related applications where long-term archives are required. 

FM301 is an extensible format that allows users to store non-standard data and metadata in the file while maintaining full compatibility with applications. This facilitates maximal retention of information during the conversion from the Level 2 data format that is generated by the instrument. It is recommended as best practice that FM 301 be used as the common international exchange format for Level 2 weather radar data.

 2. Objectives:

The Webinar aims to

  • Present the background of WMO activities related to the development of radar data standards by ET-OWR
  • Introduce FM301, its status and ongoing activities
  • Future roadmap and consideration of cartesian formats
  • Introduction to FM301 compliance checker 
  • Practical demonstration of how to use the compliance checker

3. Target Audience:

The webinar is intended for:

  • Members of SC-MINT and relevant Expert teams
  • National focal points for weather radar metadata
  • HMEI members involved in the weather radar industry
  • Representatives from Regional Associations (RAs)
  • Representatives from Project teams and technical communities

GitHub Link to Compliance Checker https://github.com/wmo-ipet-owr/FM301_CC and presentations are available in the Programme below:

WMO FM301 Webinar Programme

Language: English

ItemTime (UTC)TopicSpeaker/Facilitator
11100-1105Opening remarks

Dr Jane Warne,

SC-MINT Chair

21105-1110Introduction of the webinarDr Daniel Michelson, ET-OWR Chair
31110-1135Presentation on “WMO weather radar data format-FM301”

Mr Mark Curtis,

ET-OWR

41135-1200Presentation on “Compliance checker for FM301” and practical demonstration

Mr Bibraj Raj,

WMO Secretariat

51200-1210Question and answer sessionDr Daniel Michelson, ET-OWR Chair
61210-1215Closing RemarksMr Ercan Buyukbas, WMO secretariat

SC-MINT: Standing Committee on Measurements, Instrumentation and Traceability 

ET-OWR: SC-MINT Expert Team on Operational Weather Radar