diff --git a/tests/WE2E/test_configs/grids_extrn_mdls_suites_community/config.grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_NAM_lbcs_NAM_suite_HRRR.sh b/tests/WE2E/test_configs/grids_extrn_mdls_suites_community/config.grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_NAM_lbcs_NAM_suite_HRRR.sh
index a91c10151..10be9fed9 100644
--- a/tests/WE2E/test_configs/grids_extrn_mdls_suites_community/config.grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_NAM_lbcs_NAM_suite_HRRR.sh
+++ b/tests/WE2E/test_configs/grids_extrn_mdls_suites_community/config.grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_NAM_lbcs_NAM_suite_HRRR.sh
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS="NAM"
 EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS="NAM"
 USE_USER_STAGED_EXTRN_FILES="TRUE"
 
-DATE_FIRST_CYCL="20150602"
-DATE_LAST_CYCL="20150602"
-CYCL_HRS=( "12" )
+DATE_FIRST_CYCL="20210615"
+DATE_LAST_CYCL="20210615"
+CYCL_HRS=( "00" )
 
-FCST_LEN_HRS="24"
+FCST_LEN_HRS="6"
 LBC_SPEC_INTVL_HRS="3"
diff --git a/tests/WE2E/test_configs/grids_extrn_mdls_suites_community/config.grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_NAM_lbcs_NAM_suite_RRFS_v1beta.sh b/tests/WE2E/test_configs/grids_extrn_mdls_suites_community/config.grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_NAM_lbcs_NAM_suite_RRFS_v1beta.sh
index a22466e5b..540e5a058 100644
--- a/tests/WE2E/test_configs/grids_extrn_mdls_suites_community/config.grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_NAM_lbcs_NAM_suite_RRFS_v1beta.sh
+++ b/tests/WE2E/test_configs/grids_extrn_mdls_suites_community/config.grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_NAM_lbcs_NAM_suite_RRFS_v1beta.sh
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS="NAM"
 EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS="NAM"
 USE_USER_STAGED_EXTRN_FILES="TRUE"
 
-DATE_FIRST_CYCL="20150602"
-DATE_LAST_CYCL="20150602"
-CYCL_HRS=( "12" )
+DATE_FIRST_CYCL="20210615"
+DATE_LAST_CYCL="20210615"
+CYCL_HRS=( "00" )
 
-FCST_LEN_HRS="24"
+FCST_LEN_HRS="6"
 LBC_SPEC_INTVL_HRS="3"
diff --git a/ush/generate_FV3LAM_wflow.sh b/ush/generate_FV3LAM_wflow.sh
index 88c6493a8..d0f5d3bd4 100755
--- a/ush/generate_FV3LAM_wflow.sh
+++ b/ush/generate_FV3LAM_wflow.sh
@@ -846,6 +846,15 @@ done
 settings="$settings
   }"
 #
+# Use netCDF4 when running the North American 3-km domain due to file size.
+#
+if [ "${PREDEF_GRID_NAME}" = "RRFS_NA_3km" ]; then
+settings="$settings
+'fms2_io_nml': {
+    'netcdf_default_format': netcdf4,
+  }"
+fi
+#
 # Add the relevant tendency-based stochastic physics namelist variables to
 # "settings" when running with SPPT, SHUM, or SKEB turned on. Otherwise 
 # only include an empty "nam_stochy" stanza.
diff --git a/ush/get_extrn_mdl_file_dir_info.sh b/ush/get_extrn_mdl_file_dir_info.sh
index 30a6e2d88..aab64c2dc 100755
--- a/ush/get_extrn_mdl_file_dir_info.sh
+++ b/ush/get_extrn_mdl_file_dir_info.sh
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ function get_extrn_mdl_file_dir_info() {
 
       "NAM")
         fns=( "" )
-        fns_in_arcv=( "nam.t${hh}z.bgrdsf${fcst_hh}.tm00" )
+        fns_in_arcv=( "nam.t${hh}z.awphys${fcst_hh}.tm00.grib2" )
         ;;
 
       *)
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ and analysis or forecast (anl_or_fcst):
         ;;
 
       "NAM")
-        fn_tmpl="nam.t${hh}z.bgrdsfFHR3"
+        fn_tmpl="nam.t${hh}z.awphysFHR2.tm00.grib2"
         ;;
 
       *)
@@ -599,11 +599,14 @@ bination of external model (extrn_mdl_name) and analysis or forecast
     ;;
 
   "NAM")
+    #
+    # 12-km CONUS 218 grid.
+    #
     arcv_dir="/NCEPPROD/hpssprod/runhistory/rh${yyyy}/${yyyy}${mm}/${yyyymmdd}"
     arcv_fmt="tar"
-    arcv_fns="com_nam_prod_nam.${yyyy}${mm}${dd}${hh}.bgrid.${arcv_fmt}"
+    arcv_fns="com_nam_prod_nam.${yyyy}${mm}${dd}${hh}.awphys.${arcv_fmt}"
     arcv_fps="${arcv_dir}/${arcv_fns}"
-    arcvrel_dir=""
+    arcvrel_dir="."
     ;;
 
   *)
diff --git a/ush/templates/data_locations.yml b/ush/templates/data_locations.yml
index 23354e171..c3efd9a29 100644
--- a/ush/templates/data_locations.yml
+++ b/ush/templates/data_locations.yml
@@ -184,10 +184,10 @@ NAM:
     archive_path:
       - /NCEPPROD/hpssprod/runhistory/rh{yyyy}/{yyyymm}/{yyyymmdd}
     archive_file_names:
-      - com_nam_prod_nam.{yyyymmddhh}.bgrid.tar
+      - com_nam_prod_nam.{yyyymmddhh}.awphys{fcst_hr:02d}.tar
     file_names:
       anl:
-        - nam.t{hh}z.bgrdsf{fcst_hr:03d}.tm00
+        - nam.t{hh}z.awphys{fcst_hr:02d}.tm00.grib2
       fcst:
-        - nam.t{hh}z.bgrdsf{fcst_hr:03d}
+        - nam.t{hh}z.awphys{fcst_hr:02d}.tm00.grib2