<p>For any of the basic forecast runs (10 day, ensembles, monthly/seasonal forecasts), I do not believe ECMWF data access is general controlled to <a href="http://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/datasets/catalogue-ecmwf-real-time-products" rel="nofollow noreferrer">ECMWF.INT</a>.  Generally most data, including anywhere near enough to use in a WRF forecast, is only available for purchase <a href="http://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/accessing-forecasts/licences-available" rel="nofollow noreferrer">at extreme fees</a> (generally we're talking 5+ figures per year).  The only option you might have is if you are doing your modeling for strictly research purposes, in which case you may qualify for a <a href="http://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/accessing-forecasts" rel="nofollow noreferrer">research license</a> at reduced or free cost, or be able to access it from servers at the institution you are associated with.</p>

<p>It does appear that <a href="http://www.ecmwf.int/en/research/climate-reanalysis/era-interim" rel="nofollow noreferrer">reanalysis data</a> and various <a href="http://apps.ecmwf.int/datasets/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">other specialized products</a> are <a href="https://software.ecmwf.int/wiki/display/WEBAPI/Access+ECMWF+Public+Datasets" rel="nofollow noreferrer">available free with an account at their website</a> as described <a href="https://software.ecmwf.int/wiki/display/WEBAPI/Access+ECMWF+Public+Datasets" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.  I believe reanalysis would only get you initial conditions which I don't believe is sufficient to run a mesoscale model like WRF(?), and that they are also poorer quality/resolution (please correct me if I'm wrong on any of these beliefs!!)  Archived actual ECMWF output is still pay (see the bottom option on <a href="http://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/accessing-forecasts/licences-available" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the license page</a>).</p>

<p>I worked with ECM for a few years while producing content at <a href="https://www.stormvistawxmodels.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">StormVistaWxModels</a> and definitely indeed found most things with them to be quite a challenge, limitation, and pity!  At the time it was fairly abstruse to find what you needed or communicate with them, though it appears to have improved some.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T15:53:02.660Z
@gansub Apologies, you're right.  I completed overlooked that topic, sorry.  I haven't worked with reanalysis... but tried to update to include mention of those details.  Please do confirm if I have treated that topic correctly, thanks :-)
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T16:51:59.550Z
RDA, from UCAR (rda.ucar.edu) may be a good site, if OP is in academia, or involved in research.
BarocliniCplusplus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T07:01:02.230Z
2017-03-22T15:51:54.320Z
2017-03-22T15:51:54.320Z
JeopardyTempest
<p>Please go through the Variable table vtable.ECMWF . Download all the variables in that list. These are the minimum variables required to initiate WRF.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-14T10:11:55.597Z
This probably could be a decent answer with a bit more detail and a less terse nature.
Semidiurnal Simon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-14T07:46:05.853Z
2017-12-13T22:07:11.507Z
2017-12-13T22:07:11.507Z
sheo mishra
<p>Here is a Python Script showing how to download the required variables automatically. 
<a href="http://conorsweeneyucd.blogspot.com/2015/01/download-era-interim-data.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://conorsweeneyucd.blogspot.com/2015/01/download-era-interim-data.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-20T01:04:55.370Z
Please expand your answer. As stated it is basically a link-only answer and it might be deleted as such.
arkaia
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-23T15:47:02.693Z
Urgh. Technically yes, this is a link-only answer, and as such ought to be deleted according to SE guidelines. But there isn't any point in "summarizing" or reproducing part of a Python script or the instructions for using it.
This is a useful signpost, and I think we should retain it.
Semidiurnal Simon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-20T00:51:19.430Z
2018-09-20T00:51:19.430Z
Xiao Yu
<p>I have earlier used FNL, CFSR, Reanalysis-2 data set as input in WRF. However, I am finding it difficult to download ECMWF data as there are so many variables. Can anyone with experience in ECMWF let me know from where to download ECMWF data for WRF?</p>

<p>I need ERA-Interim Project to input into WRF. I have <a href="https://rda.ucar.edu/datasets/ds627.0/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the link</a>, I just don't know which variables to download and how to input in WRF.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T11:56:12.287Z
Can you get access to any machine near a data archive where the data are readily available (for example, CEDA in the UK)?
gerrit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-14T11:20:24.960Z
I've written some notes on downloading ERA20C data and inputting it into WRF here: http://dvalts.io/2016/12/23/ECMWF-data-in-WRF.html hopefully they may be adaptable to your needs. (and I might get around to posting in the form of an answer if I get time.)
decvalts
<wrf>
ECMWF data as WRF input
saurabh
# ECMWF data as WRF input

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-22)

I have earlier used FNL, CFSR, Reanalysis-2 data set as input in WRF. However, I am finding it difficult to download ECMWF data as there are so many variables. Can anyone with experience in ECMWF let me know from where to download ECMWF data for WRF?

I need ERA-Interim Project to input into WRF. I have [the link](https://rda.ucar.edu/datasets/ds627.0/), I just don't know which variables to download and how to input in WRF.

**Tags:** wrf

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Can you get access to any machine near a data archive where the data are readily available (for example, CEDA in the UK)?  
> **username_2**: I've written some notes on downloading ERA20C data and inputting it into WRF here: http://dvalts.io/2016/12/23/ECMWF-data-in-WRF.html hopefully they may be adaptable to your needs. (and I might get around to posting in the form of an answer if I get time.)  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-03-22. Score: 4

For any of the basic forecast runs (10 day, ensembles, monthly/seasonal forecasts), I do not believe ECMWF data access is general controlled to [ECMWF.INT](http://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/datasets/catalogue-ecmwf-real-time-products). Generally most data, including anywhere near enough to use in a WRF forecast, is only available for purchase [at extreme fees](http://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/accessing-forecasts/licences-available) (generally we're talking 5+ figures per year). The only option you might have is if you are doing your modeling for strictly research purposes, in which case you may qualify for a [research license](http://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/accessing-forecasts) at reduced or free cost, or be able to access it from servers at the institution you are associated with.

It does appear that [reanalysis data](http://www.ecmwf.int/en/research/climate-reanalysis/era-interim) and various [other specialized products](http://apps.ecmwf.int/datasets/) are [available free with an account at their website](https://software.ecmwf.int/wiki/display/WEBAPI/Access+ECMWF+Public+Datasets) as described [here](https://software.ecmwf.int/wiki/display/WEBAPI/Access+ECMWF+Public+Datasets). I believe reanalysis would only get you initial conditions which I don't believe is sufficient to run a mesoscale model like WRF(?), and that they are also poorer quality/resolution (please correct me if I'm wrong on any of these beliefs!!) Archived actual ECMWF output is still pay (see the bottom option on [the license page](http://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/accessing-forecasts/licences-available)).

I worked with ECM for a few years while producing content at [StormVistaWxModels](https://www.stormvistawxmodels.com/) and definitely indeed found most things with them to be quite a challenge, limitation, and pity! At the time it was fairly abstruse to find what you needed or communicate with them, though it appears to have improved some.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: @gansub Apologies, you're right.  I completed overlooked that topic, sorry.  I haven't worked with reanalysis... but tried to update to include mention of those details.  Please do confirm if I have treated that topic correctly, thanks :-)  
> **username_4**: RDA, from UCAR (rda.ucar.edu) may be a good site, if OP is in academia, or involved in research.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-09-14. Score: 1

Please go through the Variable table vtable.ECMWF . Download all the variables in that list. These are the minimum variables required to initiate WRF.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: This probably could be a decent answer with a bit more detail and a less terse nature.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2018-09-20. Score: 1

Here is a Python Script showing how to download the required variables automatically.
<http://conorsweeneyucd.blogspot.com/2015/01/download-era-interim-data.html>

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: Please expand your answer. As stated it is basically a link-only answer and it might be deleted as such.  
> **username_6**: Urgh. Technically yes, this is a link-only answer, and as such ought to be deleted according to SE guidelines. But there isn't any point in "summarizing" or reproducing part of a Python script or the instructions for using it. This is a useful signpost, and I think we should retain it.  

---

