METplus Tutorials

The METplus Tutorials provide hands-on guidance for using the METplus verification framework after it has been successfully installed. These tutorials are designed to help users of all experience levels work with METplus, from running basic use cases to exploring advanced verification techniques. Whether evaluating model forecasts or analyzing ensemble output, the tutorials provide step-by-step instructions and practical examples to support workflows.

Each tutorial focuses on practical applications of METplus, including grid-to-grid and grid-to-point comparisons, ensemble verification, and the use of custom configurations to tailor workflows to user’s specific needs.

Select the appropriate version to get started.

• METplus v5.0 Tutorial
  • 1. Basic Verification Statistics Review
    • 1.1. Attributes of Forecast Quality
    • 1.2. Binary Categorical Forecasts
      • 1.2.1. Verification Statistics for Binary Categorical Forecasts
      • 1.2.2. Binary Categorical Skill Scores
      • 1.2.3. METplus Solutions for Binary Categorical Forecast Verification
      • 1.2.4. METplus Examples of Binary Categorical Forecast Verification
    • 1.3. Multicategorical Forecasts
      • 1.3.1. Verification Statistics for Multicategorical Forecasts
      • 1.3.2. Multicategorical Skill Scores
      • 1.3.3. METplus Solutions for Multicategorical Forecast Verification
      • 1.3.4. METplus Examples for Multicategorical Forecast Verification
    • 1.4. Continuous Forecasts
      • 1.4.1. Verification Statistics for Continuous Forecasts
      • 1.4.2. METplus Solutions for Continuous Forecast Verification
      • 1.4.3. METplus Examples for Continuous Forecast Verification
    • 1.5. Probabilistic Forecasts
      • 1.5.1. Verification Statistics for Probabilistic Forecasts
      • 1.5.2. Probabilistic Skill Scores
      • 1.5.3. METplus Solutions for Probabilistic Forecast Verification
      • 1.5.4. METplus Examples for Probabilistic Forecast Verification
  • 2. Preliminary Work: METplus Setup
    • 2.1. METplus Setup
      • 2.1.1. METplus: Initial Setup
        • 2.1.1.1. Setting up the Tutorial Environment on Cheyenne (NCAR)
        • 2.1.1.2. Setting up the Tutorial Environment on Jet (NOAA)
        • 2.1.1.3. Setting up the Tutorial Environment on Seneca (NCAR)
        • 2.1.1.4. Setting up the Tutorial Environment on Hera (NOAA)
        • 2.1.1.5. Setting up the Tutorial Environment (bash)
        • 2.1.1.6. Setting up the Tutorial Environment (csh)
      • 2.1.2. Verify Environment is Set Correctly
    • 2.2. METplus Overview
      • 2.2.1. METplus: Directories and Configuration Files - Overview
      • 2.2.2. METplus: User Configuration Settings
      • 2.2.3. METplus: How to Run with Example.conf
      • 2.2.4. Modifying Timing Control in Example.conf
      • 2.2.5. Modifying Filename Template in Example.conf
      • 2.2.6. Modifying Log Timestamp using Example.conf
  • 3. Session 1: Grid-to-Grid
    • 3.1. MET Tool: PCP-Combine
      • 3.1.1. Run Sum Command
      • 3.1.2. Output
      • 3.1.3. Add and Subtract Commands
      • 3.1.4. Derive Command
    • 3.2. MET Tool: Plot-Data-Plane
      • 3.2.1. The Field String
      • 3.2.2. Plot GRIB Data
      • 3.2.3. Plot NetCDF Data
      • 3.2.4. Python Embedding
    • 3.3. MET Tool: Gen-Vx-Mask
      • 3.3.1. Run Poly Type
      • 3.3.2. Run Lat/Lon and Grid Types
      • 3.3.3. Run Data and Solar Types
      • 3.3.4. Run Track and Circle Types
      • 3.3.5. Run Shape Type
    • 3.4. MET Tool: Grid-Stat
      • 3.4.1. Configure
      • 3.4.2. Run
      • 3.4.3. Output
      • 3.4.4. METplus Motivation
    • 3.5. METplus Use Case: GridStat
    • 3.6. End of Session 1 and Additional Exercises
      • 3.6.1. Answers to Exercises from Session 1
  • 4. Session 2: Grid-to-Obs
    • 4.1. MET Tool: PB2NC
      • 4.1.1. Configure
      • 4.1.2. Run
      • 4.1.3. Output
      • 4.1.4. Reconfigure and Rerun
    • 4.2. METplus Use Case: PB2NC
    • 4.3. MET Tool: ASCII2NC
      • 4.3.1. Run
      • 4.3.2. Output
    • 4.4. METplus Use Case: ASCII2NC with Python Embedding
    • 4.5. MET Tool: Point-Stat
      • 4.5.1. Configure
      • 4.5.2. Run
      • 4.5.3. Output
      • 4.5.4. Reconfigure
      • 4.5.5. Rerun
      • 4.5.6. Plot-Data-Plane Tool
      • 4.5.7. Output
    • 4.6. METplus Use Case: PointStat
    • 4.7. METplus Use Case: PointStat - Standard Verification of Global Upper Air
    • 4.8. METplus Use Case: PointStat - Standard Verification for CONUS Surface
    • 4.9. End of Session 2 and Additional Exercises
  • 5. Session 3: Analysis Tools
    • 5.1. MET Tool: Stat-Analysis
      • 5.1.1. Configure
      • 5.1.2. Run on Point-Stat Output
      • 5.1.3. Output
      • 5.1.4. Exercise Answers
    • 5.2. METplus Use Case: StatAnalysis
    • 5.3. MET Tool: Series-Analysis
      • 5.3.1. Configure
      • 5.3.2. Run
      • 5.3.3. Output
    • 5.4. METplus Use Case: SeriesAnalysis
    • 5.5. End of Session 3
  • 6. Session 4: Ensemble and PQPF
    • 6.1. MET Tool: Gen-Ens-Prod
      • 6.1.1. Configure
      • 6.1.2. Run
      • 6.1.3. Output
      • 6.1.4. Rerun
    • 6.2. MET Tool: Ensemble-Stat
      • 6.2.1. Configure
      • 6.2.2. Run
      • 6.2.3. Output
    • 6.3. METplus Use Case: GenEnsProd and EnsembleStat
    • 6.4. METplus Use Case: EnsembleStat with Multiple Variables and Leads
    • 6.5. METplus Use Case: PQPF
    • 6.6. End of Session 4 and Additional Exercises
  • 7. Session 5: MODE and MTD
    • 7.1. MET Tool: MODE
      • 7.1.1. Configure
      • 7.1.2. Run
      • 7.1.3. Output
    • 7.2. METplus Use Case: MODE
    • 7.3. MET Tool: MTD
      • 7.3.1. Configure
      • 7.3.2. Run
      • 7.3.3. Output
    • 7.4. METplus Use Case: MTD
    • 7.5. End of Session 5 and Additional Exercises
  • 8. Session 6: Track and Intensity
    • 8.1. MET Tool: TC-Pairs
      • 8.1.1. Input Format
      • 8.1.2. Configure
      • 8.1.3. Run
      • 8.1.4. Output
    • 8.2. MET Tool: TC-Stat
      • 8.2.1. Configure
      • 8.2.2. Run on TC-Pairs Output: Filter
      • 8.2.3. Run on TC-Pairs Output: Summary
      • 8.2.4. Plotting with R
    • 8.3. METplus Use Case: TC-Pairs
    • 8.4. METplus Use Case: TC-Stat
    • 8.5. METplus Use Case: Track and Intensity Plotting
    • 8.6. End of Session 6
  • 9. Session 7: Feature Relative Use Cases
    • 9.1. METplus Use Case: Feature Relative Init
    • 9.2. METplus Use Case: Feature Relative Lead
    • 9.3. End of Session 7
  • 10. Session 8: METplus Analysis Tools
    • 10.1. METviewer
      • 10.1.1. Time Series of Categorical Statistics Plot
      • 10.1.2. Time Series of Categorical Statistics Plot Output
      • 10.1.3. Object Based Attribute Area Box Plot
    • 10.2. METplotpy
      • 10.2.1. Histogram
        • 10.2.1.1. Overview
        • 10.2.1.2. Set Up Pre-Requisites
        • 10.2.1.3. Create the Rank Historgram Plot
        • 10.2.1.4. Create the Relative Frequency Histogram and Probability Histogram
      • 10.2.2. Wind Rose
        • 10.2.2.1. Overview
        • 10.2.2.2. Set Up Pre-Requisites
        • 10.2.2.3. Create the Wind Rose Diagram
    • 10.3. METdataio
      • 10.3.1. METreformat Overview
      • 10.3.2. METreformat Components
      • 10.3.3. Example of Running METreformat
        • 10.3.3.1. Set Up Pre-Requisites
        • 10.3.3.2. Reformat MET Point-Stat .stat Files
      • 10.3.4. Generate a METplotpy Line Plot
        • 10.3.4.1. Set Up Pre-Requisites
        • 10.3.4.2. Set the PYTHONPATH and METPLOTPY_BASE Env Vars
        • 10.3.4.3. Copy Custom Config File to user_config
        • 10.3.4.4. Modify the Custom Configuration File
        • 10.3.4.5. Generate the Line Plot
    • 10.4. End of Session 8
  • 11. Session 9: Python Embedding
    • 11.1. Python Embedding Overview
      • 11.1.1. General MET Python Embedding Elements
        • 11.1.1.1. Details for Python Embedding Scripts with 2D Gridded Data
        • 11.1.1.2. Details for Python Embedding Scripts with Point Data
      • 11.1.2. Advanced Python Requirements
      • 11.1.3. Setup for Python Embedding Practice
    • 11.2. Python Embedding for Gridded Data
      • 11.2.1. Simple Gridded Data Example with MET Tools
      • 11.2.2. Simple Gridded Data Example with METplus Wrappers
    • 11.3. Python Embedding for Point Data
      • 11.3.1. Simple Gridded Data Example with MET Tools
      • 11.3.2. Simple Gridded Data Example with METplus Wrappers
    • 11.4. Writing a Python Script for Python Embedding
    • 11.5. Use Your Python Embedding Script with MET Tools
      • 11.5.1. PYTHON_NUMPY
      • 11.5.2. PYTHON_XARRAY
    • 11.6. Using Your Python Embedding Script With METplus Wrappers
      • 11.6.1. PYTHON_NUMPY
      • 11.6.2. PYTHON_XARRAY
    • 11.7. End of Session 9
  • 12. Session 10: Subseasonal to Seasonal
    • 12.1. S2S Metrics General
      • 12.1.1. Background
      • 12.1.2. Format of Subseasonal to Seasonal Metrics
      • 12.1.3. Basic Information on UserScripts
      • 12.1.4. Configuration Sections
      • 12.1.5. Final Considerations
    • 12.2. Run METplus for the OMI Use-Case
      • 12.2.1. Configuring the METplus OMI Use Case
      • 12.2.2. Run METplus for the OMI Use Case
      • 12.2.3. Check the Output
    • 12.3. METplus Use Case: Weather Regime
      • 12.3.1. Background
      • 12.3.2. Configure the Weather Regime Use Case
      • 12.3.3. Run METplus for the Weather Regime Use Case
      • 12.3.4. Check the Output
    • 12.4. End of Session 10
  • 13. Session 11: METplus Cloud
    • 13.1. Create an EC2 Instance
  • 14. Tutorial Survey

Older tutorials can be viewed here:

• METplus Practical Session Guide (Version 4.0)

• METplus Practical Session Guide (Version 3.0)