diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_factory/data2d_factory.cc b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_factory/data2d_factory.cc
index ff422493d0..2eacd00539 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_factory/data2d_factory.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_factory/data2d_factory.cc
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ MetPythonDataFile * p = nullptr;
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-Met2dDataFile * Met2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename) {
+Met2dDataFile * Met2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename, ConcatString attr_grid) {
    GrdFileType type;
    Met2dDataFile *mtddf = (Met2dDataFile *) nullptr;
 
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ Met2dDataFile * Met2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename)
    if(mtddf &&
       type != FileType_Python_Numpy &&
       type != FileType_Python_Xarray) {
-      if(!(mtddf->open(filename))) {
+      if(!(mtddf->open(filename, attr_grid))) {
          mlog << Error << "\nMet2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file() -> "
               << "error opening file \"" << filename << "\"\n\n";
          exit(1);
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ Met2dDataFile * Met2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename)
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-Met2dDataFile * Met2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename, GrdFileType type)
+Met2dDataFile * Met2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename, GrdFileType type, ConcatString attr_grid)
 
 {
 
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ Met2dDataFile * Met2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename,
       if(mtddf &&
          type != FileType_Python_Numpy &&
          type != FileType_Python_Xarray) {
-         if(!(mtddf->open(filename))) {
+         if(!(mtddf->open(filename, attr_grid))) {
             mlog << Error << "\nMet2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file() -> "
                  << "error opening file \"" << filename << "\"\n\n";
             exit(1);
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ Met2dDataFile * Met2dDataFileFactory::new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename,
    // Otherwise determine the type from the file name
    //
    else {
-      mtddf = new_met_2d_data_file(filename);
+      mtddf = new_met_2d_data_file(filename, attr_grid);
    }
 
    return mtddf;
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_factory/data2d_factory.h b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_factory/data2d_factory.h
index 0ad9072900..15fc9cc4da 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_factory/data2d_factory.h
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_factory/data2d_factory.h
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ class Met2dDataFileFactory
 {
    public:
       static Met2dDataFile *new_met_2d_data_file(GrdFileType type);
-      static Met2dDataFile *new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename);
-      static Met2dDataFile *new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename, GrdFileType type);
+      static Met2dDataFile *new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename, ConcatString attr_grid="");
+      static Met2dDataFile *new_met_2d_data_file(const char *filename, GrdFileType type, ConcatString attr_grid="");
 };
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib/data2d_grib.cc b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib/data2d_grib.cc
index be22e02005..1a9c9802fd 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib/data2d_grib.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib/data2d_grib.cc
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ return;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-bool MetGrib1DataFile::open(const char * _filename)
+bool MetGrib1DataFile::open(const char * _filename, ConcatString grid_str)
 
 {
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib/data2d_grib.h b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib/data2d_grib.h
index bcfbc45ab9..bdea14026f 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib/data2d_grib.h
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib/data2d_grib.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class MetGrib1DataFile : public Met2dDataFile {
          //  do stuff
          //
 
-      bool open(const char * filename);
+      bool open(const char * filename, ConcatString grid_str="");
 
       void close();
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib2/data2d_grib2.cc b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib2/data2d_grib2.cc
index 67b456764b..2f0875d4a0 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib2/data2d_grib2.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib2/data2d_grib2.cc
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void MetGrib2DataFile::close() {
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-bool MetGrib2DataFile::open(const char * _filename) {
+bool MetGrib2DataFile::open(const char * _filename, ConcatString grid_str) {
    Filename = _filename;
    if( nullptr == (FileGrib2 = met_fopen(Filename.c_str(), "r")) ){
       mlog << Error << "\nMetGrib2DataFile::open() -> "
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib2/data2d_grib2.h b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib2/data2d_grib2.h
index 3811f7cfa8..96b2285af8 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib2/data2d_grib2.h
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_grib2/data2d_grib2.h
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ class MetGrib2DataFile : public Met2dDataFile {
          //  do stuff
          //
 
-      bool open  (const char * filename);
+      bool open  (const char * filename, ConcatString grid_str="");
 
       void close ();
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/data2d_nc_cf.cc b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/data2d_nc_cf.cc
index 8c4373a62c..59b53d41f9 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/data2d_nc_cf.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/data2d_nc_cf.cc
@@ -117,13 +117,13 @@ void MetNcCFDataFile::close() {
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-bool MetNcCFDataFile::open(const char * _filename) {
+bool MetNcCFDataFile::open(const char * _filename, ConcatString attr_grid) {
 
    close();
 
    _file = new NcCfFile;
 
-   if(!_file->open(_filename)) {
+   if(!_file->open(_filename, attr_grid)) {
       mlog << Error << "\nMetNcCFDataFile::open(const char *) -> "
            << "unable to open NetCDF file \"" << _filename << "\"\n\n";
       close();
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/data2d_nc_cf.h b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/data2d_nc_cf.h
index 05e68fc54f..4de81d2a5f 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/data2d_nc_cf.h
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/data2d_nc_cf.h
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class MetNcCFDataFile : public Met2dDataFile {
       //  do stuff
       //
 
-      bool open  (const char * filename);
+      bool open  (const char * filename, ConcatString grid_str="");
 
       void close ();
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/nc_cf_file.cc b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/nc_cf_file.cc
index 3038965ab6..940b79818c 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/nc_cf_file.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/nc_cf_file.cc
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "vx_cal.h"
 #include "vx_log.h"
 
+#include "data2d_utils.h"
 #include "nc_cf_file.h"
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ void NcCfFile::close()
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-bool NcCfFile::open(const char * filepath)
+bool NcCfFile::open(const char * filepath, ConcatString grid_str)
 {
   unixtime ut;
   int sec_per_unit;
@@ -189,6 +190,8 @@ bool NcCfFile::open(const char * filepath)
   // FIXME: Commented out with NetCDF4 enabling
   // NcError err(NcError::silent_nonfatal);
 
+  _grid_str = grid_str;
+
   // Open the file
   _ncFile = open_ncfile(filepath);
 
@@ -438,7 +441,12 @@ bool NcCfFile::open(const char * filepath)
   StringArray dimNames;
   string var_x_dim_name, var_y_dim_name;
   if (IS_VALID_NC_P(_xDim)) var_x_dim_name = GET_NC_NAME_P(_xDim);
+cout << "  DEBUG HS var_x_dim_name = " << var_x_dim_name << "\n";
+cout << "  DEBUG HS IS_VALID_NC_P(_yDim) = " << IS_VALID_NC_P(_yDim) << "\n";
+  if (IS_VALID_NC_P(_yDim)) cout << "  DEBUG HS _yDim->getName() = " << _yDim->getName() << "\n";
+  if (IS_VALID_NC_P(_yDim)) cout << "  DEBUG HS GET_NC_NAME_P(_yDim) = " << GET_NC_NAME_P(_yDim) << "\n";
   if (IS_VALID_NC_P(_yDim)) var_y_dim_name = GET_NC_NAME_P(_yDim);
+cout << "  DEBUG HS var_y_dim_name = " << var_y_dim_name << "\n";
   for (int j=0; j<Nvars; ++j) {
 
     int dim_count = Var[j].Ndims;
@@ -1359,6 +1367,7 @@ void NcCfFile::read_netcdf_grid()
   NcVar *data_var = nullptr;
   NcVar *tmp_data_var = nullptr;
   IntArray var_index_list;
+  const char *method_name = "NcCfFile::read_netcdf_grid() -> ";
 
   for (int i = 0; i < Nvars; ++i)
   {
@@ -1458,11 +1467,17 @@ void NcCfFile::read_netcdf_grid()
     status = true;
   }
 
+  if (_grid_str.nonempty()) {
+    status = build_grid_by_grid_string(_grid_str, grid, method_name);
+    mlog << Debug(3) << method_name
+          << "Override the grid by set_attr_grid=\"" << _grid_str << "\"\n";
+  }
+
   if (!status ||
       !((_xDim && _yDim) ||
         (x_dim_var_name.nonempty() && y_dim_var_name.nonempty())))
   {
-     mlog << Error << "\nNcCfFile::read_netcdf_grid() -> "
+     mlog << Error << "\n" << method_name
           << "Couldn't figure out projection from information in netCDF file.\n\n";
      exit(1);
   }
@@ -3406,7 +3421,7 @@ LatLonData NcCfFile::get_data_from_lat_lon_vars(NcVar *lat_var, NcVar *lon_var,
              << i-1 << "]=" << lat_values[i-1] << " lat["
              << i << "]=" << lat_values[i] << "  "
              << fabs(curr_delta - dlat) << " > " << degree_tolerance << "\n";
-        mlog << Error << "\n" << method_name << " -> "
+        mlog << Warning << "\n" << method_name << " -> "
              << "MET can only process Latitude/Longitude files where the latitudes are evenly spaced (dlat="
              << dlat <<", delta[" << i << "]=" << curr_delta << ")\n\n";
         sanity_check_failed = true;
@@ -3426,7 +3441,7 @@ LatLonData NcCfFile::get_data_from_lat_lon_vars(NcVar *lat_var, NcVar *lon_var,
              << i-1 << "]=" << lon_values[i-1] << " lon["
              << i << "]=" << lon_values[i] << "  "
              << fabs(curr_delta - dlon) << " > " << degree_tolerance << "\n";
-        mlog << Error << "\n" << method_name << " -> "
+        mlog << Warning << "\n" << method_name << " -> "
              << "MET can only process Latitude/Longitude files where the longitudes are evenly spaced (dlon="
              << dlon <<", delta[" << i << "]=" << curr_delta << ")\n\n";
         sanity_check_failed = true;
@@ -3434,7 +3449,7 @@ LatLonData NcCfFile::get_data_from_lat_lon_vars(NcVar *lat_var, NcVar *lon_var,
       }
     }
 
-    if (sanity_check_failed) {
+    if (sanity_check_failed && _grid_str.empty()) {
       mlog << Error << "\n" << method_name << " -> "
            << "Please check the input data is the lat/lon projection\n\n";
       exit(1);
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/nc_cf_file.h b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/nc_cf_file.h
index 5e29896459..46032fd330 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/nc_cf_file.h
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_cf/nc_cf_file.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class NcCfFile {
       NcCfFile();
      ~NcCfFile();
 
-      bool open(const char * filename);
+      bool open(const char * filename, ConcatString attr_grid="");
 
       void close();
 
@@ -117,11 +117,14 @@ class NcCfFile {
       NcVarInfo* find_var_name(const char * var_name) const;
       NcVarInfo* find_var_by_dim_name(const char *dim_name) const;
 
+      //void set_attr_grid(ConcatString grid_str);
+
    private:
 
       static const double DELTA_TOLERANCE;
 
       netCDF::NcFile * _ncFile;      //  allocated
+      ConcatString _grid_str;
 
          //
          //  dimensions
@@ -198,6 +201,12 @@ class NcCfFile {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
+//inline void NcCfFile::set_attr_grid(ConcatString grid_str) { attr_grid = grid_str; };
+
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+
 #endif   /*  __NC_CF_FILE_H__  */
 
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_met/data2d_nc_met.cc b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_met/data2d_nc_met.cc
index 3cda55bcfe..e1a72dde8b 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_met/data2d_nc_met.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_met/data2d_nc_met.cc
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ void MetNcMetDataFile::close() {
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-bool MetNcMetDataFile::open(const char * _filename) {
+bool MetNcMetDataFile::open(const char * _filename, ConcatString grid_str) {
 
    close();
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_met/data2d_nc_met.h b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_met/data2d_nc_met.h
index d4ae16fc55..53892d6f2c 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_met/data2d_nc_met.h
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_met/data2d_nc_met.h
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class MetNcMetDataFile : public Met2dDataFile {
          //  do stuff
          //
 
-      bool open  (const char * filename);
+      bool open  (const char * filename, ConcatString grid_str="");
 
       void close ();
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_wrf/data2d_nc_wrf.cc b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_wrf/data2d_nc_wrf.cc
index 2dc8ddedad..42b16b40e5 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_wrf/data2d_nc_wrf.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_wrf/data2d_nc_wrf.cc
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ void MetNcWrfDataFile::close() {
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-bool MetNcWrfDataFile::open(const char * _filename) {
+bool MetNcWrfDataFile::open(const char * _filename, ConcatString grid_str) {
 
    close();
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_wrf/data2d_nc_wrf.h b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_wrf/data2d_nc_wrf.h
index a9a1e081c4..5b86e26b35 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_wrf/data2d_nc_wrf.h
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_nc_wrf/data2d_nc_wrf.h
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class MetNcWrfDataFile : public Met2dDataFile {
          //  do stuff
          //
 
-      bool open  (const char * filename);
+      bool open  (const char * filename, ConcatString grid_str="");
 
       void close ();
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/data2d_python.cc b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/data2d_python.cc
index cefd04cf79..d607484d49 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/data2d_python.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/data2d_python.cc
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ return;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-bool MetPythonDataFile::open(const char * cur_command)
+bool MetPythonDataFile::open(const char * cur_command, ConcatString grid_str)
 
 {
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/data2d_python.h b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/data2d_python.h
index ff205885bd..351ca12292 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/data2d_python.h
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_python/data2d_python.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class MetPythonDataFile : public Met2dDataFile {
          //  do stuff
          //
 
-      bool open(const char * cur_command);
+      bool open(const char * cur_command, ConcatString grid_str="");
 
       void close();
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_ugrid/data2d_ugrid.cc b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_ugrid/data2d_ugrid.cc
index 7b9ea3b25f..df77782d98 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_ugrid/data2d_ugrid.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_ugrid/data2d_ugrid.cc
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ void MetUGridDataFile::close() {
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-bool MetUGridDataFile::open(const char * _filename) {
+bool MetUGridDataFile::open(const char * _filename, ConcatString grid_str) {
 
    close();
 
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_ugrid/data2d_ugrid.h b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_ugrid/data2d_ugrid.h
index de549b0640..68f6ffaefb 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_data2d_ugrid/data2d_ugrid.h
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_data2d_ugrid/data2d_ugrid.h
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class MetUGridDataFile : public Met2dDataFile {
       //  do stuff
       //
 
-      bool open  (const char * filename);
+      bool open  (const char * filename, ConcatString grid_str="");
       bool open_metadata(const char * filename);
       ConcatString coordinate_file() const;
       void set_ugrid_configs(ConcatString dataset_name, double max_distance_km,