MetFetch - Time-out or (403) Forbidden Error

Some RASCAL 4.3.1 users have experienced this error while attempting to download meteorological observations from National Weather Service (NWS) using the MetFetch tool in RASCAL 4.3.1. Note: The NWS forecast downloads are not affected by this error.

Reason for Error: This error message occurs because the security protocols on the NWS servers were recently upgraded. The RASCAL 4.3.1 MetFetch tool does not currently use the updated security protocol to interrogate the NWS servers to download meteorological observations, which results in the error message.

Error Resolution: There is no work-around for this error in the current RASCAL 4.3.1 MetFetch tool. Attempting to download the observation data from a single station at a time may work as a temporary solution; however, there is still a possibility of the error.

Additionally, this specific error has been resolved in our latest update for the code, RASCAL 4.3.2, which is only available through the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) Radiation Protection Computer Code Analysis and Maintenance Program (RAMP).