Quick visualization of netCDF data

Point NCPlot at a netCDF file, an OPeNDAP URL, or an xarray dataset. It works out the variables, dimensions and coordinates for you, and builds an interactive plot — in a notebook, a browser, or straight from the terminal.

  • Works with any CF-compliant netCDF file, local or remote
  • Automatically picks the right plot for each variable
  • One line of code: view("file.nc")
  • Native xarray accessor: ds.ncplot.view()
  • Command line viewer: ncplot file.nc
view.py
from ncplot import view

view(
    "https://psl.noaa.gov/thredds/dodsC/Datasets/COBE2/sst.mon.ltm.1981-2010.nc",
    vars="sst",
    coast=True,
)  # -> an interactive map, no other setup needed
How it works

Point, plot, explore

NCPlot turns viewing a netCDF file into a single function call, so you spend time looking at your data instead of writing plotting code.

1

Point at a file

A local path, an OPeNDAP/THREDDS URL, a directory of files, or an already-open xarray Dataset/DataArray.

2

Plot with view()

NCPlot inspects each variable's dimensions and coordinates and picks a sensible plot automatically — map, cross-section, or time series.

3

Explore interactively

Pan, zoom and read off values in your notebook or browser, or save the result as a shareable, self-contained HTML file.

Why NCPlot

Everything you need to look at netCDF data, fast

Built for anyone who just wants to see what's inside a netCDF file — so the defaults are sensible and nothing needs configuring first.

Zero configuration

Install from conda-forge or pip and plot your first file the same minute — no setup, no boilerplate.

Works with any CF-compliant netCDF

Local files, directories of files, or remote OPeNDAP/THREDDS URLs — NCPlot reads them all the same way.

Automatic plot selection

Maps, vertical sections and time series are chosen based on each variable's dimensions — no chart type to pick.

Native xarray integration

Register the accessor once and call ds.ncplot.view() or da.ncplot.view(), just like xarray's own .plot().

Command line viewer

ncplot file.nc opens an interactive view straight from the terminal — no Python session required.

Shareable HTML output

Pass out="figure.html" to save any plot as a self-contained file you can send to a colleague.

See it in action

An interactive plot in one function call

Every view() call inspects the file or dataset you give it, decides how best to represent each variable, and renders an interactive, pannable, zoomable plot — in a notebook cell, a browser tab, or embedded in an HTML report.

Read the quickstart
sst.mon.ltm.1981-2010.nc — view()
Variablesst
Dimslat, lon
Coastlineson
terminal
# install
conda install -c conda-forge ncplot

# view every variable in a file, from Python...
from ncplot import view
view("example.nc")

# ...or straight from the command line
ncplot example.nc
Get started in minutes

From raw netCDF to an interactive plot

Works from Python, a Jupyter notebook, the xarray accessor, or the terminal — pick whichever fits how you already work with your data. No project setup, no configuration file.

  • Plot a single variable or everything in a file.
  • Multi-file and time-aware datasets are supported directly.
  • Optional coastlines and geographic projections via cartopy.
Install NCPlot

Ready to see what's inside your netCDF file?

Install NCPlot from conda-forge or pip, and go from a file path to an interactive plot in one line.