diff --git a/src/components/data_comps/datm/cime_config/config_component.xml b/src/components/data_comps/datm/cime_config/config_component.xml
index 1445e260bd31..04c94974219f 100644
--- a/src/components/data_comps/datm/cime_config/config_component.xml
+++ b/src/components/data_comps/datm/cime_config/config_component.xml
@@ -10,12 +10,13 @@
        This file may have atm desc entries.
   -->
   <description modifier_mode="1">
-    <desc atm="DATM[%QIA][%WISOQIA][%CRU][%CRUv7][%GSWP3v1][%CPLHIST][%1PT][%NYF][%IAF][%JRA]"> Data driven ATM </desc>
+    <desc atm="DATM[%QIA][%WISOQIA][%CRU][%CRUv7][%GSWP3v1][%NLDAS2][%CPLHIST][%1PT][%NYF][%IAF][%JRA]"> Data driven ATM </desc>
     <desc option="QIA"> QIAN data set </desc>
     <desc option="WISOQIA">QIAN with water isotopes</desc>
     <desc option="CRU"> CRUNCEP data set </desc>
     <desc option="CRUv7"> CLM CRU NCEP v7 data set </desc>
     <desc option="GSWP3v1"> GSWP3v1 data set </desc>
+    <desc option="NLDAS2"> NLDAS2 regional 0.125 degree data set over the U.S. (25-53N, 235-293E). WARNING: Garbage data will be produced for runs extending beyond this regional domain. </desc>
     <desc option="CPLHIST"> Coupler hist data set (in this mode, it is strongly recommended that the model domain and the coupler history forcing are on the same domain)</desc>
     <desc option="1PT">single point tower site data set </desc>
     <desc option="NYF">COREv2 normal year forcing</desc>
@@ -34,13 +35,14 @@
 
   <entry id="DATM_MODE">
     <type>char</type>
-    <valid_values>CORE2_NYF,CORE2_IAF,CLM_QIAN,CLM_QIAN_WISO,CLM1PT,CLMCRUNCEP,CLMCRUNCEPv7,CLMGSWP3v1,CPLHIST,CORE_IAF_JRA</valid_values>
+    <valid_values>CORE2_NYF,CORE2_IAF,CLM_QIAN,CLM_QIAN_WISO,CLM1PT,CLMCRUNCEP,CLMCRUNCEPv7,CLMGSWP3v1,CLMNLDAS2,CPLHIST,CORE_IAF_JRA</valid_values>
     <default_value>CORE2_NYF</default_value>
     <group>run_component_datm</group>
     <file>env_run.xml</file>
     <desc>Mode for data atmosphere component.
       CORE2_NYF (CORE2 normal year forcing) are modes used in forcing prognostic ocean/sea-ice components.
-      CLM_QIAN, CLMCRUNCEP, CLMCRUNCEPv7, CLMGSWP3v1 and CLM1PT are modes using observational data for forcing prognostic land components.</desc>
+      CLM_QIAN, CLMCRUNCEP, CLMCRUNCEPv7, CLMGSWP3v1, CLMNLDAS2 and CLM1PT are modes using observational data for forcing prognostic land components.
+      WARNING for CLMNLDAS2: This is a regional forcing dataset over the U.S. (25-53N, 235-293E). Garbage data will be produced for runs extending beyond this regional domain. </desc>
     <values match="last">
       <value compset="%NYF">CORE2_NYF</value>
       <value compset="%IAF">CORE2_IAF</value>
@@ -50,6 +52,7 @@
       <value compset="%CRU">CLMCRUNCEP</value>
       <value compset="%CRUv7">CLMCRUNCEPv7</value>
       <value compset="%GSWP3v1">CLMGSWP3v1</value>
+      <value compset="%NLDAS2">CLMNLDAS2</value>
       <value compset="%1PT">CLM1PT</value>
       <value compset="%CPLHIST">CPLHIST</value>
     </values>
@@ -190,12 +193,15 @@
       <value compset="1850.*_DATM%QIA">1</value>
       <value compset="1850.*_DATM%CRU">1</value>
       <value compset="1850.*_DATM%GSW">1</value>
+      <value compset="1850.*_DATM%NLDAS2">1</value>
       <value compset="HIST.*_DATM%QIA">1895</value>
       <value compset="HIST.*_DATM%CRU">1901</value>
       <value compset="HIST.*_DATM%GSW">1901</value>
+      <value compset="HIST.*_DATM%NLDAS2">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_START</value>
       <value compset="20TR.*_DATM%QIA">1895</value>
       <value compset="20TR.*_DATM%CRU">1901</value>
       <value compset="20TR.*_DATM%GSW">1901</value>
+      <value compset="20TR.*_DATM%NLDAS2">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_START</value>
       <value compset="RCP.*_DATM%QIA">2004</value>
       <value compset="RCP.*_DATM%CRU">2005</value>
       <value compset="RCP.*_DATM%GSW">2005</value>
@@ -220,14 +226,17 @@
       <value compset="1850.*_DATM%QIA">1948</value>
       <value compset="1850.*_DATM%CRU">1901</value>
       <value compset="1850.*_DATM%GSW">1901</value>
+      <value compset="1850.*_DATM%NLDAS2">0</value>  <!-- Unsupported -->
       <value compset="2000.*_DATM%WISOQIA">2000</value>
       <value compset="2000.*_DATM%QIA">1972</value>
       <value compset="HIST.*_DATM%QIA">1948</value>
       <value compset="HIST.*_DATM%CRU">1901</value>
       <value compset="HIST.*_DATM%GSW">1901</value>
+      <value compset="HIST.*_DATM%NLDAS2">0</value>  <!-- Unsupported -->
       <value compset="20TR.*_DATM%QIA">1948</value>
       <value compset="20TR.*_DATM%CRU">1901</value>
       <value compset="20TR.*_DATM%GSW">1901</value>
+      <value compset="20TR.*_DATM%NLDAS2">0</value>  <!-- Unsupported -->
       <value compset="4804.*_DATM%QIA">1948</value>
       <value compset="RCP.*_DATM%QIA" >1972</value>
       <value compset="RCP.*_DATM%CRU" >1991</value>
@@ -241,6 +250,9 @@
       <value compset="2000.*_DATM%GSW">1991</value>
       <value compset="2010.*_DATM%GSW">2005</value>
       <value compset="2003.*_DATM%GSW">2002</value>
+      <value compset="2000.*_DATM%NLDAS2">1980</value>
+      <value compset="2010.*_DATM%NLDAS2">2005</value>
+      <value compset="2003.*_DATM%NLDAS2">2002</value>
     </values>
     <group>run_component_datm</group>
     <file>env_run.xml</file>
@@ -256,14 +268,17 @@
       <value   compset="1850.*_DATM%QIA">1972</value>
       <value   compset="1850.*_DATM%CRU">1920</value>
       <value   compset="1850.*_DATM%GSW">1920</value>
+      <value   compset="1850.*_DATM%NLDAS2">-1</value>  <!-- Unsupported -->
       <value   compset="2000.*_DATM%WISOQIA">2004</value>
       <value   compset="2000.*_DATM%QIA">2004</value>
       <value   compset="HIST.*_DATM%QIA">1972</value>
       <value   compset="HIST.*_DATM%CRU">1920</value>
       <value   compset="HIST.*_DATM%GSW">1920</value>
+      <value   compset="HIST.*_DATM%NLDAS2">-1</value>  <!-- Unsupported -->
       <value   compset="20TR.*_DATM%QIA">1972</value>
       <value   compset="20TR.*_DATM%CRU">1920</value>
       <value   compset="20TR.*_DATM%GSW">1920</value>
+      <value   compset="20TR.*_DATM%NLDAS2">-1</value>  <!-- Unsupported -->
       <value   compset="4804.*_DATM%QIA">2004</value>
       <value   compset="RCP.*_DATM%QIA">2004</value>
       <value   compset="RCP.*_DATM%CRU">2010</value>
@@ -277,6 +292,9 @@
       <value   compset="2000.*_DATM%GSW">2010</value>
       <value   compset="2010.*_DATM%GSW">2014</value>
       <value   compset="2003.*_DATM%GSW">2003</value>
+      <value   compset="2000.*_DATM%NLDAS2">2018</value>
+      <value   compset="2010.*_DATM%NLDAS2">2014</value>
+      <value   compset="2003.*_DATM%NLDAS2">2003</value>
     </values>
     <group>run_component_datm</group>
     <file>env_run.xml</file>
diff --git a/src/components/data_comps/datm/cime_config/namelist_definition_datm.xml b/src/components/data_comps/datm/cime_config/namelist_definition_datm.xml
index 6c9d79c95944..a502d81ce66d 100644
--- a/src/components/data_comps/datm/cime_config/namelist_definition_datm.xml
+++ b/src/components/data_comps/datm/cime_config/namelist_definition_datm.xml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
     CLMCRUNCEP		= Run with the CLM CRU NCEP V4 ( default ) forcing valid from 1900 to 2010 (force CLM)
     CLMCRUNCEPv7 	= Run with the CLM CRU NCEP V7 forcing valid from 1900 to 2010 (force CLM)
     CLMGSWP3v1		= Run with the CLM GSWP3 V1 forcing (force CLM)
+    CLMNLDAS2		= Run with the CLM NLDAS2 regional forcing valid from 1980 to 2018 (force CLM)
     CLM1PT		= Run with supplied single point data (force CLM)
     CORE2_NYF		= CORE2 normal year forcing (for forcing POP and CICE)
     CORE2_IAF		= CORE2 intra-annual year forcing (for forcing POP and CICE)
@@ -96,6 +97,10 @@
     CLMGSWP3v1.Precip
     CLMGSWP3v1.TPQW
 
+    CLMNLDAS2.Solar
+    CLMNLDAS2.Precip
+    CLMNLDAS2.TPQW
+
     co2tseries.20tr
     co2tseries.20tr.latbnd
     co2tseries.rcp2.6
@@ -171,6 +176,7 @@
       <value datm_mode="CLMCRUNCEP$">CLMCRUNCEP.Solar,CLMCRUNCEP.Precip,CLMCRUNCEP.TPQW</value>
       <value datm_mode="CLMCRUNCEPv7">CLMCRUNCEPv7.Solar,CLMCRUNCEPv7.Precip,CLMCRUNCEPv7.TPQW</value>
       <value datm_mode="CLMGSWP3v1">CLMGSWP3v1.Solar,CLMGSWP3v1.Precip,CLMGSWP3v1.TPQW</value>
+      <value datm_mode="CLMNLDAS2">CLMNLDAS2.Solar,CLMNLDAS2.Precip,CLMNLDAS2.TPQW</value>
       <value datm_mode="CORE2_NYF" >CORE2_NYF.GISS,CORE2_NYF.GXGXS,CORE2_NYF.NCEP</value>
       <value datm_mode="CORE2_IAF" >CORE2_IAF.GCGCS.PREC,CORE2_IAF.GISS.LWDN,CORE2_IAF.GISS.SWDN,CORE2_IAF.GISS.SWUP,CORE2_IAF.NCEP.DN10,CORE2_IAF.NCEP.Q_10,CORE2_IAF.NCEP.SLP_,CORE2_IAF.NCEP.T_10,CORE2_IAF.NCEP.U_10,CORE2_IAF.NCEP.V_10,CORE2_IAF.CORE2.ArcFactor</value>
       <value datm_mode="CORE_IAF_JRA" >CORE_IAF_JRA.PREC,CORE_IAF_JRA.LWDN,CORE_IAF_JRA.SWDN,CORE_IAF_JRA.Q_10,CORE_IAF_JRA.SLP_,CORE_IAF_JRA.T_10,CORE_IAF_JRA.U_10,CORE_IAF_JRA.V_10,CORE_IAF_JRA.CORE2.ArcFactor</value>
@@ -196,6 +202,7 @@
       <value stream="CLMCRUNCEP\.">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/share/domains/domain.clm</value>
       <value stream="CLMCRUNCEP_V5">$DIN_LOC_ROOT_CLMFORC/atm_forcing.datm7.cruncep_qianFill.0.5d.V5.c140715</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3">$DIN_LOC_ROOT_CLMFORC/atm_forcing.datm7.GSWP3.0.5d.v1.c170516</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/share/domains/domain.clm</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_NYF">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/atm/datm7/NYF</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF.CORE2.ArcFactor">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/atm/datm7/CORE2</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF.NCEP.DENS.SOFS">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/share/domains</value>
@@ -261,6 +268,7 @@
       <value stream="CLMCRUNCEP">domain.lnd.360x720.130305.nc</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3v1">domain.lnd.360x720_gswp3.0v1.c170606.nc</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3">domain.lnd.360x720_gswp3.0v1.c170606.nc</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2">domain.lnd.0.125nldas2_0.125nldas2.190410.nc</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_NYF.GISS">nyf.giss.T62.051007.nc</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_NYF.GXGXS">nyf.gxgxs.T62.051007.nc</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_NYF.NCEP">nyf.ncep.T62.050923.nc</value>
@@ -412,6 +420,9 @@
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3.Solar">$DIN_LOC_ROOT_CLMFORC/atm_forcing.datm7.GSWP3.0.5d.v1.c170516/Solar3Hrly</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3.Precip">$DIN_LOC_ROOT_CLMFORC/atm_forcing.datm7.GSWP3.0.5d.v1.c170516/Precip3Hrly</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3.TPQW">$DIN_LOC_ROOT_CLMFORC/atm_forcing.datm7.GSWP3.0.5d.v1.c170516/TPHWL3Hrly</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2.Solar">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/atm/datm7/atm_forcing.datm7.NLDAS2.0.125d.v1/Solar</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2.Precip">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/atm/datm7/atm_forcing.datm7.NLDAS2.0.125d.v1/Precip</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2.TPQW">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/atm/datm7/atm_forcing.datm7.NLDAS2.0.125d.v1/TPQWL</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_NYF">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/atm/datm7/NYF</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF.CORE2.ArcFactor">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/atm/datm7/CORE2</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF">$DIN_LOC_ROOT/ocn/iaf</value>
@@ -485,6 +496,9 @@
       <value  stream="CLMGSWP3v1.Solar">clmforc.GSWP3.c2011.0.5x0.5.Solr.%ym.nc</value>
       <value  stream="CLMGSWP3v1.Precip">clmforc.GSWP3.c2011.0.5x0.5.Prec.%ym.nc</value>
       <value  stream="CLMGSWP3v1.TPQW">clmforc.GSWP3.c2011.0.5x0.5.TPQWL.%ym.nc</value>
+      <value  stream="CLMNLDAS2.Solar">ctsmforc.NLDAS2.0.125d.v1.Solr.%ym.nc</value>
+      <value  stream="CLMNLDAS2.Precip">ctsmforc.NLDAS2.0.125d.v1.Prec.%ym.nc</value>
+      <value  stream="CLMNLDAS2.TPQW">ctsmforc.NLDAS2.0.125d.v1.TPQWL.%ym.nc</value>
       <value  stream="CORE2_NYF.GISS">nyf.giss.T62.051007.nc</value>
       <value  stream="CORE2_NYF.GXGXS">nyf.gxgxs.T62.051007.nc</value>
       <value  stream="CORE2_NYF.NCEP">nyf.ncep.T62.050923.nc</value>
@@ -1810,6 +1824,19 @@
         PSRF     pbot
         FLDS     lwdn
       </value>
+      <value  stream="CLMNLDAS2.Solar">
+        FSDS swdn
+      </value>
+      <value  stream="CLMNLDAS2.Precip">
+        PRECTmms precn
+      </value>
+      <value  stream="CLMNLDAS2.TPQW">
+        TBOT     tbot
+        WIND     wind
+        QBOT     shum
+        PSRF     pbot
+        FLDS     lwdn
+      </value>
       <value stream="CORE2_NYF.GISS">
         lwdn  lwdn
         swdn  swdn
@@ -2017,6 +2044,7 @@
       <value stream="CLM_QIAN">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_ALIGN</value>
       <value stream="CLMCRUNCEP">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_ALIGN</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_ALIGN</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_ALIGN</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_NYF">1</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF.CORE2.ArcFactor">1</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF">1</value>
@@ -2057,6 +2085,7 @@
       <value stream="CLM_QIAN">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_START</value>
       <value stream="CLMCRUNCEP">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_START</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_START</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_START</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_NYF">1</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF.NCEP.DENS.SOFS">2010</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF.NCEP.PSLV.SOFS">2010</value>
@@ -2123,6 +2152,7 @@
       <value stream="CLM_QIAN">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_END  </value>
       <value stream="CLMCRUNCEP">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_END  </value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_END  </value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2">$DATM_CLMNCEP_YR_END  </value>
       <value stream="CORE2_NYF">1</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF.NCEP.DENS.SOFS">2011</value>
       <value stream="CORE2_IAF.NCEP.PSLV.SOFS">2011</value>
@@ -2371,6 +2401,7 @@
       <value datm_mode="CLM1PT">nn</value>
       <value stream="CLMCRUNCEP" atm_grid="hcru">copy</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3" atm_grid="hcru">copy</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2" atm_grid="0.125nldas2">copy</value>
       <value stream="co2tseries">nn</value>
     </values>
   </entry>
@@ -2442,6 +2473,8 @@
       <value stream="CLMCRUNCEPv7.Precip">nearest</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3v1.Solar">coszen</value>
       <value stream="CLMGSWP3v1.Precip">nearest</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2.Solar">coszen</value>
+      <value stream="CLMNLDAS2.Precip">nearest</value>
       <value stream="BC.CRUNCEP.GPCP.Precip">nearest</value>
       <value stream="BC.CRUNCEP.CMAP.Precip">nearest</value>
       <value stream="Anomaly.Forcing.Precip">nearest</value>