diff --git a/scripts/plotting_tools.py b/scripts/plotting_tools.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c52c23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/plotting_tools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,320 @@
+import os
+from os.path import join
+from glob import glob
+
+import pandas as pd
+import xarray as xr
+import numpy as np
+
+from matplotlib import pyplot as plt
+import cartopy.crs as ccrs
+import cartopy.feature as cfeature
+
+import logging
+
+ptypes = ['snow', 'rain', 'frzr', 'icep']
+
+def get_tle_files(base_path, valid_time, n_members=1, min_lead_time=1, init_step=1):
+    '''
+    Get ptype files at a given valid time.
+
+    Arguments:
+        base_path (str): path to directory
+        valid_time (str): YYYY-mm-dd HHMM
+        n_members (int): for gathering an ensemble of times, default is no ensemble
+        min_lead_time (int): ?
+        init_step (int): not implemented 
+    '''
+    date = pd.to_datetime(valid_time)
+    file_names = []
+    if n_members == 1:
+        dt = date - pd.Timedelta(f"1h")
+        date_str = f"MILES_ptype_hrrr_{dt.strftime('%Y-%m-%d_%H%M')}"
+        return [join(base_path, dt.strftime("%Y%m%d"), dt.strftime("%H%M"), f"{date_str}_f01.nc")]
+    for time_delta in range(n_members, 0, -1):
+        dt = date - pd.Timedelta(f"{time_delta}h")
+        date_str = f"MILES_ptype_hrrr_{dt.strftime('%Y-%m-%d_%H%M')}"
+        path = join(base_path, dt.strftime("%Y%m%d"), dt.strftime("%H%M"), f"{date_str}_f{str(time_delta).zfill(2)}.nc")
+        file_names.append(path)
+    return file_names
+
+
+def load_data(files, variables):
+    def process(ds):
+        ds = ds[variables]
+        precip_sum = ds[['crain', 'csnow', 'cicep', 'cfrzr']].to_array().sum(dim='variable')
+        for ptype in ptypes:
+            ds[f'ML_c{ptype}'] = xr.where(precip_sum >= 1, x=ds[f"ML_c{ptype}"], y=np.nan)
+            ds[f'ML_{ptype}'] = xr.where(precip_sum >= 1, x=ds[f"ML_{ptype}"], y=np.nan)
+            ds[f'ML_{ptype}_epi'] = xr.where(precip_sum >= 1, x=ds[f"ML_{ptype}_epi"], y=np.nan)
+            ds[f'ML_{ptype}_ale'] = xr.where(precip_sum >= 1, x=ds[f"ML_{ptype}_ale"], y=np.nan)
+            ds[ptype] = ds[f'ML_c{ptype}'].where(ds[f'ML_c{ptype}'] >= 1) * ds[f'ML_{ptype}'] # mask where precip sum >= 1 and where ML_cptype >= 1
+            ds[f'c{ptype}'] = xr.where(ds[f'c{ptype}'] == 1, 1, np.nan)
+        return ds
+    def process_ensemble(ds):
+        ds = ds[variables]
+        precip_sum = ds[['crain', 'csnow', 'cicep', 'cfrzr']].to_array().sum(dim='variable')
+        for ptype in ptypes:
+            ds[f'ML_{ptype}'] = xr.where(precip_sum >= 1, x=ds[f'ML_{ptype}'], y=0)
+            ds[f'ML_{ptype}_epi'] = xr.where(precip_sum >= 1, x=ds[f"ML_{ptype}_epi"], y=0)
+            ds[f'ML_{ptype}_ale'] = xr.where(precip_sum >= 1, x=ds[f"ML_{ptype}_ale"], y=0)
+        concat = xr.concat([ds[f'ML_{ptype}'] for ptype in ptypes], dim='ptype')
+        concat_tle = concat.mean("time")
+        max_idx = concat_tle.argmax(dim='ptype')
+        for i, ptype in enumerate(ptypes):
+            ds[f'ML_c{ptype}'] = xr.where(max_idx == i, 1, np.nan) # set categorical values
+            ds[ptype] = ds[f'ML_c{ptype}'] * ds[f'ML_{ptype}'] # set categorical multiplied by prob
+        ds = ds.mean("time").apply(lambda x: x.where(x != 0, np.nan)) # sum and set 0 to nan in one line
+        return ds
+        
+    if len(files) == 1:
+        ds = xr.open_dataset(files[0]).squeeze()
+        return process(ds)
+    else:
+        ds = xr.open_mfdataset(files, parallel=True)
+        ds = process_ensemble(ds)
+        return ds
+
+
+def plot_hrrr_ptype(ds):
+    '''plot hrrr precip categorizations'''
+    projection = ccrs.LambertConformal(central_longitude=-97.5, standard_parallels=(38.5, 38.5))
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(7, 7), subplot_kw={'projection': projection})
+    ax.set_extent([-108, -91, 37, 47.5], crs=ccrs.PlateCarree())
+    cmaps = ["Greens", "Blues", "cool", "Reds"]
+    ptyped = ['rain', 'snow', 'icep', 'frzr'] # ordered in terms of importance, most important plotted last
+    lat = ds['latitude']
+    lon = ds['longitude']
+
+    for i, ptype in enumerate(ptyped):
+        h = ax.pcolormesh(lon, lat, ds[f'c{ptype}'] * 0.9, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree(), cmap=cmaps[i], vmin=0, vmax=1)
+    
+    ax.add_feature(cfeature.STATES, linewidth=0.5)
+    return ax
+    
+
+def plot_ptype(ds, ptype=None):
+    '''plots probabilities of each precipitation type based on the type with maximum probability'''
+    projection = ccrs.LambertConformal(central_longitude=-97.5, standard_parallels=(38.5, 38.5))
+    #projection = ccrs.PlateCarree()
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(7, 7), subplot_kw={'projection': projection})
+    ax.set_extent([-108, -91, 37, 47.5], crs=ccrs.PlateCarree())
+    cmaps = ["Blues", "Greens", "cool", "Reds"]
+    ptyped = ['snow', 'rain', 'icep', 'frzr']
+    lat = ds['latitude']
+    lon = ds['longitude']
+   
+    for i, ptype in enumerate(ptyped):
+        h = ax.pcolormesh(lon, lat, ds[ptype], transform=ccrs.PlateCarree(), cmap=cmaps[i], vmin=0, vmax=1)
+    
+    ax.add_feature(cfeature.STATES, linewidth=0.5)
+    return ax
+
+
+def plot_probability(ds, ptype):
+    '''plots probabilities where a certain precipitation type occurs'''
+    projection = ccrs.LambertConformal(central_longitude=-97.5, standard_parallels=(38.5, 38.5))
+    extent = [-108, -91, 37, 47.5]    
+    #projection=ccrs.PlateCarree()
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(7, 7), subplot_kw={'projection': projection})
+    ax.set_extent([-108, -91, 37, 47.5], crs=ccrs.PlateCarree())
+    ax.add_feature(cfeature.STATES)
+    
+    lat = ds['latitude']
+    lon = ds['longitude']
+    prob_data = ds[f'ML_{ptype}']
+    pcm = ax.pcolormesh(lon, lat, prob_data, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree(), cmap='GnBu')
+    
+    cbar = plt.colorbar(pcm, ax=ax, pad=0.025, fraction=0.042)
+    cbar.set_label(f'Probability of {ptype}')
+    return ax
+
+
+def plot_uncertainty(ds, ptype):
+    '''plot epistemic and aleatoric uncertainty where a certain precipitation type occurs'''
+    projection = ccrs.LambertConformal(central_longitude=-97.5, standard_parallels=(38.5, 38.5))
+    extent = [-108, -91, 37, 47.5]
+    fig, axs = plt.subplots(1, 2, figsize=(15, 7), subplot_kw={'projection': projection})
+    
+    for ax in axs:
+        ax.set_extent(extent, crs=ccrs.PlateCarree())
+        ax.add_feature(cfeature.STATES, linewidth=0.4)
+    
+    lat = ds['latitude']
+    lon = ds['longitude']
+    
+    ale_data = ds[f'ML_{ptype}_ale']
+    epi_data = ds[f'ML_{ptype}_epi']
+    
+    pcm_ale = axs[0].pcolormesh(lon, lat, ale_data, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree(), vmin=0)
+    plt.colorbar(pcm_ale, ax=axs[0], fraction=0.042, pad=0.025,)
+    
+    pcm_epi = axs[1].pcolormesh(lon, lat, epi_data, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree(), vmin=0)
+    plt.colorbar(pcm_epi, ax=axs[1], fraction=0.042, pad=0.025)
+    
+    plt.tight_layout()
+    return axs
+
+
+def plot_winds(ds, base_plot, ptype=None):
+    '''plots u and v wind quivers on top of another plot'''
+    ax = base_plot(ds, ptype)
+    u = ds['u10'].values
+    v = ds['v10'].values
+    lat = ds['latitude'].values
+    lon = ds['longitude'].values
+    if isinstance(ax, np.ndarray): # case of multiple subplots (possibly add loop later)
+        ax[0].quiver(lon[::20, ::20], lat[::20, ::20], u[::20, ::20], v[::20, ::20], width=0.0015, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree())
+        ax[1].quiver(lon[::20, ::20], lat[::20, ::20], u[::20, ::20], v[::20, ::20], width=0.0015, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree())
+    else:
+        ax.quiver(lon[::20, ::20], lat[::20, ::20], u[::20, ::20], v[::20, ::20], width=0.0015, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree())
+    return ax
+    
+
+def plot_temp(ds, base_plot, ptype=None):
+    '''plots temp contours on top of another plot'''
+    ax = base_plot(ds, ptype)
+    lat = ds['latitude']
+    lon = ds['longitude']
+    temp_data = ds['t2m'] - 273.15  # Convert from Kelvin to Celsius
+    if isinstance(ax, np.ndarray):
+        for a in ax:
+            contour(a, lon, lat, temp_data)
+    else:
+        contour(ax, lon, lat, temp_data)
+    return ax
+    
+
+def plot_dpt(ds, base_plot, ptype=None):
+    '''plots dewpoint contours on top of another plot'''
+    ax = base_plot(ds, ptype)
+    lat = ds['latitude']
+    lon = ds['longitude']
+    dpt_data = ds['d2m'] - 273.15  # Convert from Kelvin to Celsius
+    
+    if isinstance(ax, np.ndarray):
+        for a in ax:
+            contour(a, lon, lat, dpt_data)
+    else:
+        contour(ax, lon, lat, dpt_data)
+    return ax
+
+
+def contour(ax, lon, lat, data):
+    contours = ax.contour(lon, lat, data, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree(), levels=10)
+    #zero_cel = ax.contour(lon, lat, dpt_data, transform=ccrs.PlateCarree(), levels=[0], colors='black', linewidths=2)
+    ax.clabel(contours, fontsize=10, colors='black')
+    #cbar = plt.colorbar(contours, orientation="horizontal", fraction=0.15, pad=0.025)
+    #cbar.set_label('Dew Pt Temperature (°C)')
+
+
+def plot_sp(ds, base_plot, ptype=None):
+    '''plot surface pressure contours on top of base plot'''
+    ax = base_plot(ds, ptype)
+    lat = ds['latitude']
+    lon = ds['longitude']
+    sp_data = ds['sp']
+
+    if isinstance(ax, np.ndarray):
+        for a in ax:
+            contour(a, lon, lat, sp_data)
+    else:
+        contour(ax, lon, lat, sp_data)
+    return ax
+
+
+def save(title, outname, ax=None):
+    print(f'saving {outname}')
+    if isinstance(ax, np.ndarray):
+        ax[0].set_title(title[0])
+        ax[1].set_title(title[1])
+    else:
+        plt.title(title)
+    plt.savefig(outname, bbox_inches='tight', dpi=300)
+    plt.close()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+    logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
+
+    # Example usage:
+    base_path = '/glade/derecho/scratch/cbecker/ptype_real_time/winter_2023_2024/hrrr'
+    valid_time = '2023-12-26 0100'
+    time = valid_time[:-5]
+    n_members = 1
+    output_dir = './plots/'
+
+    # check if path exists
+    if not os.path.exists(output_dir):
+        os.makedirs(output_dir)
+    
+    variables = [
+        'u10', 'v10', 'ML_rain', 'ML_crain', 'ML_snow', 'ML_csnow', 'ML_frzr', 'ML_cfrzr', 'ML_icep', 'ML_cicep',
+        'crain', 'csnow', 'cfrzr', 'cicep', 'ML_rain_ale', 'ML_rain_epi', 'ML_snow_ale', 'ML_snow_epi', 'ML_frzr_ale',
+        'ML_frzr_epi', 'ML_icep_ale', 'ML_icep_epi', 'd2m', 't2m', 'sp'
+    ]
+    title = f''
+    outname = f''
+    
+    if n_members > 1:
+        title += f'Time Lagged Ensemble'
+        outname += f'time_lagged_'
+    
+    files = get_tle_files(base_path, valid_time, n_members)
+    ds = load_data(files, variables)
+    logger.info(f'{len(files)} files loaded')
+    
+    title_ptype = f'{title} {valid_time} Precip\nSnow = Blue, Rain = Green, Sleet = Purple, Freezing Rain = Red'
+    out_ptype = f'{output_dir}{outname}ptype_{time}'
+    
+    plot_hrrr_ptype(ds)
+    save(title_ptype, f'{out_ptype}_hrrr.png')
+
+    plot_ptype(ds)
+    save(title_ptype, f'{out_ptype}.png')
+
+    plot_winds(ds, plot_ptype)
+    save(title_ptype, f'{out_ptype}_quivers.png')
+
+    plot_temp(ds, plot_ptype)
+    save(title_ptype, f'{out_ptype}_temp.png')
+
+    plot_dpt(ds, plot_ptype)
+    save(title_ptype, f'{out_ptype}_dpt.png')
+
+    plot_sp(ds, plot_ptype)
+    save(f'{title_ptype}', f'{out_ptype}_sp.png')
+
+    for ptype in ptypes:
+        logger.info(f'plotting prob {ptype}')
+        title_prob = f'{title} probability {ptype} {valid_time}'
+        out_prob = f'{output_dir}{outname}prob_{time}_{ptype}'
+        plot_probability(ds, ptype)
+        save(title_prob, f'{out_prob}.png')
+        
+        plot_winds(ds, plot_probability, ptype=ptype)
+        save(f'{title_prob}', f'{out_prob}_quivers.png')
+
+        plot_temp(ds, plot_probability, ptype=ptype)
+        save(f'{title_prob}', f'{out_prob}_temp.png')
+
+        plot_dpt(ds, plot_probability, ptype=ptype)
+        save(f'{title_prob}', f'{out_prob}_dpt.png')
+        
+        logger.info(f'plotting uncertainty {ptype}')
+        title_uncert = [f'{title} Aleatoric Uncertainty {ptype} {valid_time}', f'{title} Epistemic Uncertainty {ptype} {valid_time}']
+        out_uncert = f'{output_dir}{outname}uncert_{time}_{ptype}'
+        ax = plot_uncertainty(ds, ptype)
+        save(title_uncert, f'{out_uncert}.png', ax)
+
+        ax = plot_winds(ds, plot_uncertainty, ptype=ptype)
+        save(title_uncert, f'{out_uncert}_quivers.png', ax)
+        
+        ax = plot_temp(ds, plot_uncertainty, ptype=ptype)
+        save(title_uncert, f'{out_uncert}_temp.png', ax)
+
+        ax = plot_dpt(ds, plot_uncertainty, ptype=ptype)
+        save(title_uncert, f'{out_uncert}_dpt.png', ax)
+
+    
\ No newline at end of file