WRF Source Code Registration and Download

Beginning with V4.0 of the WRF/WRFDA/WRF-Chem/WPS code, all release downloads are available from the WRF-Model GitHub repository.
Code downloads prior to V4.0

There are 2 methods to obtain the WRF-Modeling System source code:

1. (Recommended) Clone the code from the wrf-model GitHub repository using a command line. This requires an installation of git (included on most modern systems – you can check with the command (csh e.g.): which git). This method provides more flexibility to update the version and facilitates the most direct method for contributing development back to the WRF-Model code base.
   

   WRF Model Source Code (WRF, WRFDA, & WRF-Chem):
   **Beginning with V4.4, submodules are obtained during compile; therefore this command is required to obtain the WRF code.**
   git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/wrf-model/WRF
   
   Note: If compiling without internet access, or if you check out another branch other than ‘master,’ issue the following commands while connected to the internet.
   git clone https://github.com/wrf-model/WRF.git
   git submodule update --init --recursive
   After this, you can go offline to compile. If you need to clean the code at any point, use ‘clean -aa’ instead of ‘clean -a’.
   
   To obtain WRF code prior to V4.4, use the following command.
   git clone https://github.com/wrf-model/WRF
   
   
   WRF Preprocessing System Source Code (WPS) :
   git clone https://github.com/wrf-model/WPS

   See the archives page for all release notes.
   See the WRF GitHub Wiki pages for Known Problems.

   Since V4.0, WRFDA/WRFPlus code is now fully-integrated into the WRF code. See the WRFDA V4.0 Update Summary and chapter 6 of the Users Guide for additional information.



2. Aquire the code through the archive file on GitHub. The disadvantage to this method is the lack of flexibility with the ability to troubleshoot with version control. Archive files are provided in both zip and tar.gz formats. Each release provides an archive file. Users should download the archive file for the most recent released version.

   WRF Model Archive File (includes WRF, WRFDA, WRF-Chem)
   Scroll to the bottom of the release notes and make sure to choose the file "v4.x.tar.gz" or "v4.x.zip". Do not choose the "Source code" files.
   
   WRF Preprocessing System (WPS) Model Archive File

Pre-compiled code on Amazon Web Services (AWS) WRF Versions 3.6 - current have been precompiled on a saved AWS instance. In order to use this code, you must have your own AWS account. Click here for additional information.

WPS Geographical Static Data To access the WPS Geographical Static Data Downloads page, click here.

WRF/WPS Post-processing and Utilities To access the Post-processing and Utilities Downloads page, click here.

WRF Testing To access the WRF Testing Information page, click here.

Git-related Resources:

GitHub Fork Tutorial

Ry's Git Tutorial

GitHub Code School

Git Simple Guide

Git "Cheat Sheet"

updated 03/13/2023 21:13:51