diff --git a/tools/RAiDER/models/gmao.py b/tools/RAiDER/models/gmao.py
index 67000cd87..8a286c1a5 100755
--- a/tools/RAiDER/models/gmao.py
+++ b/tools/RAiDER/models/gmao.py
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 from RAiDER.models.weatherModel import WeatherModel
 from RAiDER.logger import *
 from RAiDER.utilFcns import writeWeatherVars2NETCDF4, roundTime, requests_retry_session
+from RAiDER.models.model_levels import (
+    LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS,
+)
 
 
 class GMAO(WeatherModel):
@@ -41,6 +44,8 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._x_res = 0.3125
         self._y_res = 0.25
 
+        self._zlevels = np.flipud(LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS)
+
         self._Name = 'GMAO'
         self.files = None
         self._bounds = None
diff --git a/tools/RAiDER/models/hrrr.py b/tools/RAiDER/models/hrrr.py
index 229b859ba..14aac16bd 100644
--- a/tools/RAiDER/models/hrrr.py
+++ b/tools/RAiDER/models/hrrr.py
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 
 from RAiDER.logger import *
 from RAiDER.models.weatherModel import WeatherModel
+from RAiDER.models.model_levels import (
+    LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS,
+)
 
 
 class HRRR(WeatherModel):
@@ -40,6 +43,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._Npl = 0
         self.files = None
         self._bounds = None
+        self._zlevels = np.flipud(LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS)
 
         # Projection
         # See https://github.com/blaylockbk/pyBKB_v2/blob/master/demos/HRRR_earthRelative_vs_gridRelative_winds.ipynb and code lower down
@@ -56,6 +60,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         p1 = CRS('+proj=lcc +lat_1={lat1} +lat_2={lat2} +lat_0={lat0} +lon_0={lon0} +x_0={x0} +y_0={y0} +a={a} +b={a} +units=m +no_defs'.format(lat1=lat1, lat2=lat2, lat0=lat0, lon0=lon0, x0=x0, y0=y0, a=earth_radius))
         self._proj = p1
 
+
     def _fetch(self, lats, lons, time, out, Nextra=2):
         '''
         Fetch weather model data from HRRR
diff --git a/tools/RAiDER/models/merra2.py b/tools/RAiDER/models/merra2.py
index 3ee69be61..dffe0ab69 100755
--- a/tools/RAiDER/models/merra2.py
+++ b/tools/RAiDER/models/merra2.py
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 from RAiDER.models.weatherModel import WeatherModel
 from RAiDER.logger import *
 from RAiDER.utilFcns import writeWeatherVars2NETCDF4
+from RAiDER.models.model_levels import (
+    LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS,
+)
 
 
 def Model():
@@ -54,6 +57,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._Name = 'MERRA2'
         self.files = None
         self._bounds = None
+        self._zlevels = np.flipud(LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS)
 
         # Projection
         self._proj = CRS.from_epsg(4326)
diff --git a/tools/RAiDER/models/ncmr.py b/tools/RAiDER/models/ncmr.py
index e82250491..c4a9977c3 100755
--- a/tools/RAiDER/models/ncmr.py
+++ b/tools/RAiDER/models/ncmr.py
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
     read_NCMR_loginInfo,
     show_progress
 )
+from RAiDER.models.model_levels import (
+    LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS,
+)
 
 
 class NCMR(WeatherModel):
@@ -52,6 +55,8 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._x_res = .17578125                  # same as longitude
         self._y_res = .11718750                  # same as latitude
 
+        self._zlevels = np.flipud(LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS)
+
         self._bounds = None
 
         # Projection
diff --git a/tools/RAiDER/models/template.py b/tools/RAiDER/models/template.py
index 9ab91c8a8..c1e2f165d 100644
--- a/tools/RAiDER/models/template.py
+++ b/tools/RAiDER/models/template.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 from RAiDER.models.weatherModel import WeatherModel
+from RAiDER.models.model_levels import (
+    LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS,
+)
 
 
 class customModelReader(WeatherModel):
@@ -29,6 +32,9 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._y_res = 3.  # y-direction grid spacing in the weather model native projection
         #  (if the projection is in lat/lon, it is the same as "self._lat_res")
 
+        # zlevels specify fixed heights at which to interpolate the weather model variables
+        self._zlevels = np.flipud(LEVELS_137_HEIGHTS)
+
         self._Name = 'ABCD'  # name of the custom weather model (better to be capitalized)
 
         # Projections in RAiDER are defined using pyproj (python wrapper around Proj)