diff --git a/model/src/w3gridmd.F90 b/model/src/w3gridmd.F90
index ecf2726a0..8bfc6521a 100644
--- a/model/src/w3gridmd.F90
+++ b/model/src/w3gridmd.F90
@@ -845,7 +845,7 @@ MODULE W3GRIDMD
 #ifdef W3_ST4
   INTEGER                 :: SWELLFPAR, SDSISO, SDSBRFDF, SINTABLE,&
                              TAUWBUG
-  REAL 		   :: SDSBCHOICE
+  REAL                    :: SDSBCHOICE                     
   REAL                    :: ZWND, ALPHA0, Z0MAX, BETAMAX, SINTHP,&
        ZALP, Z0RAT, TAUWSHELTER, SWELLF,    &
        SWELLF2,SWELLF3,SWELLF4, SWELLF5,    &
diff --git a/model/src/w3initmd.F90 b/model/src/w3initmd.F90
index 4badbcb1a..fbefffc84 100644
--- a/model/src/w3initmd.F90
+++ b/model/src/w3initmd.F90
@@ -658,7 +658,6 @@ SUBROUTINE W3INIT ( IMOD, IsMulti, FEXT, MDS, MTRACE, ODAT, FLGRD,  FLGR2, FLGD,
       STOP
     ENDIF
 #endif
-
     !
     ! 1.c Open files without unpacking MDS ,,,
     !
@@ -1240,7 +1239,11 @@ SUBROUTINE W3INIT ( IMOD, IsMulti, FEXT, MDS, MTRACE, ODAT, FLGRD,  FLGR2, FLGD,
     !
     ! 4.d Preprocessing for point output.
     !
-    IF ( FLOUT(2) ) CALL W3IOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES, IMOD )
+#ifdef W3_MPI    
+    IF ( FLOUT(2) ) CALL W3IOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES, IMOD, MPI_COMM_WAVE )
+#else 
+    IF ( FLOUT(2) ) CALL W3IOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES, IMOD, 1 )
+#endif 
 #ifdef W3_PDLIB
     CALL DEALLOCATE_PDLIB_GLOBAL(IMOD)
 #endif
diff --git a/model/src/w3iopomd.F90 b/model/src/w3iopomd.F90
index bbdfda34c..fec758638 100644
--- a/model/src/w3iopomd.F90
+++ b/model/src/w3iopomd.F90
@@ -146,6 +146,10 @@ MODULE W3IOPOMD
   !> Dimension name for the netCDF point output file, for WW3TIME
   character(*), parameter, private :: DNAME_WW3TIME = 'WW3TIME'
 
+  !> Dimension name for the netCDF point weight file, WGHTLEN
+  !> This is 4 the dimension of weights 
+  character(*), parameter, private ::  DNAME_WGHTLEN = 'WGHTLEN'
+
   !> Variable name for the netCDF point output file, for NK.
   character(*), parameter, private :: VNAME_NK = 'NK'
 
@@ -158,6 +162,12 @@ MODULE W3IOPOMD
   !> Variable name for the netCDF point output file, for PTNME.
   character(*), parameter, private :: VNAME_PTNME = 'PTNME'
 
+  !> Variable name for the netCDF point weight file, for IPTINT
+  character(*), parameter, private :: VNAME_IPTINT = 'IPTINT'
+
+  !> Variable name for the netCDF point weight file, for PTIFAC
+  character(*), parameter, private :: VNAME_PTIFAC = 'PTIFAC'
+
   !> Variable name for the netCDF point output file, for TIME. 
   character(*), parameter, private :: VNAME_TIME = 'TIME'
 
@@ -226,7 +236,7 @@ MODULE W3IOPOMD
   !>
   !> @author H. L. Tolman  @date 02-Sep-2012
   !>
-  SUBROUTINE W3IOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES, IMOD )
+  SUBROUTINE W3IOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES, IMOD, MPI_COMM_IOPP )
     !/
     !/                  +-----------------------------------+
     !/                  | WAVEWATCH III           NOAA/NCEP |
@@ -329,7 +339,8 @@ SUBROUTINE W3IOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES, IMOD )
     ! 10. Source code :
     !
     !/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- /
-    USE W3GSRUMD
+    USE NETCDF
+    USE W3GSRUMD, ONLY: W3GRMP
     USE W3GDATMD, ONLY: NTH, NK, NSPEC, NX, NY, X0, Y0, SX, GSU,&
          RLGTYPE, CLGTYPE, UNGTYPE, GTYPE, FLAGLL,   &
          ICLOSE,ICLOSE_NONE,ICLOSE_SMPL,ICLOSE_TRPL, &
@@ -340,21 +351,25 @@ SUBROUTINE W3IOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES, IMOD )
     USE W3GDATMD, ONLY: PoLat, PoLon, FLAGUNR
     USE W3SERVMD, ONLY: W3LLTOEQ
 #endif
-    USE W3ODATMD, ONLY: W3DMO2
+    USE W3ODATMD, ONLY: W3DMO2, FNMPRE
     USE W3ODATMD, ONLY: NDSE, NDST, IAPROC, NAPERR, NAPOUT, SCREEN, &
          NOPTS, PTLOC, PTNME, GRDID, IPTINT, PTIFAC
     USE W3SERVMD, ONLY: EXTCDE
 #ifdef W3_S
     USE W3SERVMD, ONLY: STRACE
 #endif
-    USE W3TRIAMD
+    USE W3TRIAMD, ONLY: IS_IN_UNGRID 
+    USE W3GDATMD, ONLY: FILEXT 
     !
     IMPLICIT NONE
+#ifdef W3_MPI
+    INCLUDE "mpif.h"
+#endif
     !/
     !/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- /
     !/ Parameter list
     !/
-    INTEGER, INTENT(IN)          :: NPT, IMOD
+    INTEGER, INTENT(IN)          :: NPT, IMOD, MPI_COMM_IOPP
     REAL, INTENT(INOUT)          :: XPT(NPT), YPT(NPT)
     CHARACTER(LEN=40),INTENT(IN) :: PNAMES(NPT)
     !/
@@ -389,6 +404,16 @@ SUBROUTINE W3IOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES, IMOD )
     !!  Declare a few temporary variables for rotated grid.  JGLi12Jun2012
     REAL, ALLOCATABLE :: EquLon(:),EquLat(:),StdLon(:),StdLat(:),AnglPT(:)
 #endif
+    ! Variables for NetCDF weights file for points
+    character(len = 124) :: filename
+    logical :: pnt_wght_exists, pnt_wght_write
+    integer :: ncerr, fh
+    integer :: d_nopts, d_namelen, d_vsize, d_wghtlen
+    integer :: d_nopts_len, d_vsize_len,d_namelen_len,d_wghtlen_len
+    integer :: v_ptloc, v_ptnme, v_iptint, v_ptifac
+#ifdef W3_MPI
+    integer :: IERR_MPI
+#endif 
     !/
     !/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- /
     !/
@@ -423,86 +448,214 @@ SUBROUTINE W3IOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES, IMOD )
 
 #endif
     !
-    !   Removed by F.A. 2011/04/04  /T      CALL W3GSUP( GSU, NDST )
+    !If unstructured grid, check to see if a netcdf point weight file exists:
+    filename = 'pnt_wght.'//FILEXT(:LEN_TRIM(FILEXT))//'.nc'
+    IF (GTYPE .NE. UNGTYPE) THEN 
+      !skipping weights file for non-unstructured grids. 
+      !likely could be used after proper testing if initialization time is long
+      pnt_wght_exists = .FALSE.
+      pnt_wght_write = .FALSE.
+    ELSE
+      !for unstructured grid, use saved weights file if exists: 
+      INQUIRE(FILE=filename, EXIST=pnt_wght_exists)
+      pnt_wght_write = .NOT. pnt_wght_exists 
+    ENDIF   
     !
-    ! Loop over output points
+    ! Loop over output points if saved weights do not exist 
     !
-    DO IPT=1, NPT
-      !
+    IF (.NOT. pnt_wght_exists) THEN        
+      DO IPT=1, NPT
+        !
 #ifdef W3_T
-      WRITE (NDST,9010) IPT, XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
+        WRITE (NDST,9010) IPT, XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
 #endif
-      !
+        !
 #ifdef W3_RTD
-      !!   Need to wrap rotated Elon values greater than X0.  JGLi12Jun2012
-      XPT(IPT) = MOD( EquLon(IPT)+360.0, 360.0 )
-      IF( XPT(IPT) .LT. X0 )  XPT(IPT) = XPT(IPT) + 360.0
+        !!   Need to wrap rotated Elon values greater than X0.  JGLi12Jun2012
+        XPT(IPT) = MOD( EquLon(IPT)+360.0, 360.0 )
+        IF( XPT(IPT) .LT. X0 )  XPT(IPT) = XPT(IPT) + 360.0
 #endif
-      !
-      !     Check if point within grid and compute interpolation weights
-      !
-      IF (GTYPE .NE. UNGTYPE) THEN
-        INGRID = W3GRMP( GSU, XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), IX, IY, RD )
-      ELSE
-        CALL IS_IN_UNGRID(IMOD, DBLE(XPT(IPT)), DBLE(YPT(IPT)), itout, IX, IY, RD)
-        INGRID = (ITOUT.GT.0)
-      END IF
-      !
-      IF ( .NOT.INGRID ) THEN
-        IF ( IAPROC .EQ. NAPERR ) THEN
-          IF ( FLAGLL ) THEN
-            WRITE (NDSE,1000) XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
-          ELSE
-            WRITE (NDSE,1001) XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
+        !
+        !     Check if point within grid and compute interpolation weights
+        !
+        IF (GTYPE .NE. UNGTYPE) THEN
+          INGRID = W3GRMP( GSU, XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), IX, IY, RD )
+        ELSE
+          CALL IS_IN_UNGRID(IMOD, DBLE(XPT(IPT)), DBLE(YPT(IPT)), itout, IX, IY, RD)
+          INGRID = (ITOUT.GT.0)
+        END IF
+        !
+        IF ( .NOT.INGRID ) THEN
+          IF ( IAPROC .EQ. NAPERR ) THEN
+            IF ( FLAGLL ) THEN
+              WRITE (NDSE,1000) XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
+            ELSE
+              WRITE (NDSE,1001) XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
+            END IF
           END IF
+          CYCLE
         END IF
-        CYCLE
-      END IF
-      !
+        !
 #ifdef W3_T
-      DO K = 1,4
-        WRITE (NDST,9012) IX(K), IY(K), RD(K)
-      END DO
+        DO K = 1,4
+          WRITE (NDST,9012) IX(K), IY(K), RD(K)
+        END DO
 #endif
-      !
-      !     Check if point not on land
-      !
-      IF ( MAPSTA(IY(1),IX(1)) .EQ. 0 .AND. &
-           MAPSTA(IY(2),IX(2)) .EQ. 0 .AND. &
-           MAPSTA(IY(3),IX(3)) .EQ. 0 .AND. &
-           MAPSTA(IY(4),IX(4)) .EQ. 0 ) THEN
-        IF ( IAPROC .EQ. NAPERR ) THEN
-          IF ( FLAGLL ) THEN
-            WRITE (NDSE,1002) XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
-          ELSE
-            WRITE (NDSE,1003) XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
+        !
+        !     Check if point not on land
+        !
+        IF ( MAPSTA(IY(1),IX(1)) .EQ. 0 .AND. &
+             MAPSTA(IY(2),IX(2)) .EQ. 0 .AND. &
+             MAPSTA(IY(3),IX(3)) .EQ. 0 .AND. &
+             MAPSTA(IY(4),IX(4)) .EQ. 0 ) THEN
+          IF ( IAPROC .EQ. NAPERR ) THEN
+            IF ( FLAGLL ) THEN
+              WRITE (NDSE,1002) XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
+            ELSE
+              WRITE (NDSE,1003) XPT(IPT), YPT(IPT), PNAMES(IPT)
+            END IF
           END IF
+          CYCLE
         END IF
-        CYCLE
-      END IF
-      !
-      !     Store interpolation data
-      !
-      NOPTS  = NOPTS + 1
-      !
-      PTLOC (1,NOPTS) = XPT(IPT)
-      PTLOC (2,NOPTS) = YPT(IPT)
+        !
+        !     Store interpolation data
+        !
+        NOPTS  = NOPTS + 1
+        !
+        PTLOC (1,NOPTS) = XPT(IPT)
+        PTLOC (2,NOPTS) = YPT(IPT)
 #ifdef W3_RTD
-      !!   Store the standard lon/lat in PTLOC for output purpose, assuming
-      !!   they are not used for any inside calculation.  JGLi12Jun2012
-      PTLOC (1,NOPTS) = StdLon(IPT)
-      PTLOC (2,NOPTS) = StdLat(IPT)
+        !!   Store the standard lon/lat in PTLOC for output purpose, assuming
+        !!   they are not used for any inside calculation.  JGLi12Jun2012
+        PTLOC (1,NOPTS) = StdLon(IPT)
+        PTLOC (2,NOPTS) = StdLat(IPT)
 #endif
-      !
-      DO K = 1,4
-        IPTINT(1,K,NOPTS) = IX(K)
-        IPTINT(2,K,NOPTS) = IY(K)
-        PTIFAC(K,NOPTS) = RD(K)
-      END DO
+        !
+        DO K = 1,4
+          IPTINT(1,K,NOPTS) = IX(K)
+          IPTINT(2,K,NOPTS) = IY(K)
+          PTIFAC(K,NOPTS) = RD(K)
+        END DO
 
-      PTNME(NOPTS) = PNAMES(IPT)
-      !
-    END DO ! End loop over output points (IPT).
+        PTNME(NOPTS) = PNAMES(IPT)
+        !
+      END DO ! End loop over output points (IPT).
+    ELSE 
+      ! Saved weight file exists, read weights from file 
+      IF ( IAPROC .EQ. 1 ) THEN 
+        ! Open the netCDF file.
+        ncerr = nf90_open(filename, NF90_NOWRITE, fh)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ! Read the dimension information for NOPTS.
+        ncerr = nf90_inq_dimid(fh, DNAME_NOPTS, d_nopts)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_inquire_dimension(fh, d_nopts, len = d_nopts_len)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        NOPTS=d_nopts_len
+
+        ! Read the dimension information for VSIZE.
+        ncerr = nf90_inq_dimid(fh, DNAME_VSIZE, d_vsize)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_inquire_dimension(fh, d_vsize, len = d_vsize_len)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ! Read the dimension information for NAMELEN.
+        ncerr = nf90_inq_dimid(fh, DNAME_NAMELEN, d_namelen)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_inquire_dimension(fh, d_namelen, len = d_namelen_len)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ! Read the dimension information for WGHTLEN.
+        ncerr = nf90_inq_dimid(fh, DNAME_WGHTLEN, d_wghtlen)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_inquire_dimension(fh, d_wghtlen, len = d_wghtlen_len)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ! Read vars 
+        ncerr = nf90_inq_varid(fh, VNAME_PTLOC, v_ptloc)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_get_var(fh, v_ptloc, PTLOC, start = (/ 1, 1/), &
+          count = (/ d_vsize_len, d_nopts_len /))
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ncerr = nf90_inq_varid(fh, VNAME_PTNME, v_ptnme)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_get_var(fh, v_ptnme, PTNME, start = (/ 1, 1/), &
+          count = (/ d_namelen_len, d_nopts_len /))
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ncerr = nf90_inq_varid(fh, VNAME_IPTINT, v_iptint)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_get_var(fh, v_iptint, IPTINT, start = (/ 1, 1/), &
+          count = (/ d_vsize_len, d_wghtlen_len, d_nopts_len /))
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ncerr = nf90_inq_varid(fh, VNAME_PTIFAC, v_ptifac)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_get_var(fh, v_ptifac, PTIFAC, start = (/ 1, 1/), &
+          count = (/ d_wghtlen_len, d_nopts_len /))
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+      END IF 
+#ifdef W3_MPI
+      ! Broadcast weight info to all MPI tasks: 
+      CALL MPI_BCAST(NOPTS,1,MPI_INTEGER,IAPROC-1,MPI_COMM_IOPP,IERR_MPI)
+      CALL MPI_BCAST(PTNME,40*NPT,MPI_CHARACTER,IAPROC-1,MPI_COMM_IOPP,IERR_MPI)
+      CALL MPI_BCAST(PTLOC,2*NPT,MPI_REAL,0,MPI_COMM_IOPP,IERR_MPI)
+      CALL MPI_BCAST(IPTINT,2*4*NPT,MPI_REAL,0,MPI_COMM_IOPP,IERR_MPI)
+      CALL MPI_BCAST(PTIFAC,4*NPT,MPI_REAL,0,MPI_COMM_IOPP,IERR_MPI)
+      CALL MPI_Barrier(MPI_COMM_IOPP,IERR_MPI)
+#endif
+    ENDIF  !end if point weight file exists       
+
+    !Create a weights file if there are output points:
+    IF ( pnt_wght_write .AND. (NOPTS > 0) ) THEN 
+      IF ( IAPROC .EQ. 1 ) THEN
+        ! Create the netCDF file.
+        ncerr = nf90_create(filename, NF90_NETCDF4, fh)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ! Define dimensions.
+        ncerr = nf90_def_dim(fh, DNAME_NOPTS, NOPTS, d_nopts)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_def_dim(fh, DNAME_NAMELEN, 40, d_namelen)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_def_dim(fh, DNAME_VSIZE, 2, d_vsize)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_def_dim(fh, DNAME_WGHTLEN, 4, d_wghtlen)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ! Define vars with nopts as a dimension. Point location and name
+        ncerr = nf90_def_var(fh, VNAME_PTLOC, NF90_FLOAT, (/d_vsize, d_nopts/), v_ptloc)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_def_var(fh, VNAME_PTNME, NF90_CHAR, (/d_namelen, d_nopts/), v_ptnme)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_def_var(fh, VNAME_IPTINT, NF90_FLOAT, (/d_vsize, d_wghtlen, d_nopts/), v_iptint)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_def_var(fh, VNAME_PTIFAC, NF90_FLOAT, (/d_wghtlen, d_nopts/), v_ptifac)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ! End of all variable definitions 
+        ncerr = nf90_enddef(fh)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        !write variables to file
+        ncerr = nf90_put_var(fh, v_ptloc, PTLOC(:,1:NOPTS))
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_put_var(fh, v_ptnme, PTNME(1:NOPTS))
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ncerr = nf90_put_var(fh, v_iptint, IPTINT(:,:,1:NOPTS))
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+        ncerr = nf90_put_var(fh, v_ptifac, PTIFAC(:,1:NOPTS))
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+        ! Close the file.
+        ncerr = nf90_close(fh)
+        if (nf90_err(ncerr) .ne. 0) return
+
+      END IF   
+    ENDIF 
     !
 #ifdef W3_RTD
     DEALLOCATE( EquLon, EquLat, StdLon, StdLat, AnglPT )
@@ -1115,7 +1268,6 @@ SUBROUTINE W3IOPE ( A )
     !/
   END SUBROUTINE W3IOPE
 
-#ifdef W3_BIN2NC
   !> Handle netCDF return code.
   !>
   !> @param errcode NetCDF error code. 0 for no error.
@@ -1137,6 +1289,7 @@ integer function nf90_err_check(errcode, ILINE)
       return 
     endif
   end function nf90_err_check
+#ifdef W3_BIN2NC
 
   !> Read point output in netCDF format.
   !>
diff --git a/model/src/w3triamd.F90 b/model/src/w3triamd.F90
index b7fb6aaec..f2118ec24 100644
--- a/model/src/w3triamd.F90
+++ b/model/src/w3triamd.F90
@@ -1697,7 +1697,7 @@ SUBROUTINE IS_IN_UNGRID(IMOD, XTIN, YTIN, ITOUT, IS, JS, RW)
     ! 10. Source code :
     !
     !/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- /
-    USE W3GDATMD
+    USE W3GDATMD, ONLY: GRIDS
     USE W3SERVMD, ONLY: EXTCDE
 #ifdef W3_S
     USE W3SERVMD, ONLY: STRACE
diff --git a/model/src/wmiopomd.F90 b/model/src/wmiopomd.F90
index bce460483..1737e04bb 100644
--- a/model/src/wmiopomd.F90
+++ b/model/src/wmiopomd.F90
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ SUBROUTINE WMIOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES )
 #endif
       !
 #ifdef W3_SHRD
-      CALL W3IOPP ( MDATAS(J)%NRUPTS, XP, YP, PN, J )
+      CALL W3IOPP ( MDATAS(J)%NRUPTS, XP, YP, PN, J, 1)
 #endif
       !
       ! 3.d.2 Distributed memory version
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ SUBROUTINE WMIOPP ( NPT, XPT, YPT, PNAMES )
 #endif
         !
 #ifdef W3_MPI
-        CALL W3IOPP ( MDATAS(J)%NRUPTS, XP, YP, PN, J )
+        CALL W3IOPP ( MDATAS(J)%NRUPTS, XP, YP, PN, J, MPI_COMM_MWAVE)
 #endif
         !
 #ifdef W3_MPI
diff --git a/regtests/bin/run_cmake_test b/regtests/bin/run_cmake_test
index 07ade5a8b..d7e05497b 100755
--- a/regtests/bin/run_cmake_test
+++ b/regtests/bin/run_cmake_test
@@ -1358,6 +1358,16 @@ fi
     done
   fi
 
+# copy pnt weight files from input to work directory 
+  pntwghtfile=`\ls $path_i/pnt_wght.*.nc 2>/dev/null`
+  if [ ! -z "$pntwghtfile" ]; then
+    for pntwghtnc in $pntwghtfile
+    do
+      cp $pntwghtnc .
+      echo "copying $pntwghtnc to $path_w"
+    done
+  fi
+
 if [ $multi -ge 1 ]
 then
   prog=ww3_multi