NCAS-CMS · sadielbartholomew · Jan 16, 2026 · Jan 16, 2026 · Jan 16, 2026 · Jan 16, 2026
diff --git a/Changelog.rst b/Changelog.rst
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
-Version NEXTVERSION
+Version 3.19.0
 --------------
 
-**2026-01-??**
+**2026-01-16**
 
 * Write Zarr v3 datasets with `cf.write`
   (https://github.com/NCAS-CMS/cf-python/issues/895)
 * Read Zarr v2 and v3 datasets that contain a group hierarchy with
   `cf.read` (https://github.com/NCAS-CMS/cf-python/issues/894)
 * Reduce the time taken to import `cf`
   (https://github.com/NCAS-CMS/cf-python/issues/902)
-* New optional dependency: ``zarr>=3.1.3``
 * New function to control the creation of cached elements during data
   display: `cf.display_data`
   (https://github.com/NCAS-CMS/cf-python/issues/913)
@@ -23,7 +22,8 @@ Version NEXTVERSION
   (https://github.com/NCAS-CMS/cf-python/issues/902)
 * Reduce the time taken to import `cf`
   (https://github.com/NCAS-CMS/cf-python/issues/902)
-* Changed dependency: ``cfdm>=1.12.4.0, <1.12.5.0``
+* New optional dependency: ``zarr>=3.1.3``
+* Changed dependency: ``cfdm>=1.13.0.0, <1.13.1.0``
 
 ----
 
@@ -1214,7 +1214,6 @@ version 2.2.4
 
 version 2.2.3
 --------------
-----
 
 **2018-06-21**
 
@@ -1253,7 +1252,6 @@ version 2.2.1
 
 version 2.2.0
 -------------
-----
 
 **2018-06-04**
 
@@ -1320,7 +1318,6 @@ version 2.1.3
 
 version 2.1.2
 -------------
-----
 
 **2017-11-28**
 
@@ -1353,7 +1350,6 @@ version 2.1
 
 version 2.0.6
 -------------
-----
 
 **2017-09-28**
 

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -96,7 +96,6 @@ of its array manipulation and can:
 * test whether two field constructs are the same,
 * modify field construct metadata and data,
 * create subspaces of field constructs,
-* write field constructs to netCDF datasets on disk,
 * incorporate, and create, metadata stored in external files,
 * read, write, and create data that have been compressed by convention
   (i.e. ragged or gathered arrays, or coordinate arrays compressed by

diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@
 - [ ] Ensure that the requirements on dependencies & their versions
   are up-to-date and consistent in both the `requirements.txt` and in
   `docs/source/installation.rst` (paying particular attention to
-  `cfdm`); and in the `_requires` list and `Version` checks in
-  `cf/__init__.py`.
+  `cfdm`); and in the cfdm-only `Version` checks in `cf/__init__.py`.
 
 - [ ] Make sure that `README.md` is up to date.
 
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@
   deprecated methods and keyword arguments that can be completely
   removed, i.e. those with a ``removed_at`` version that is at or
   before the version being released. Remove any reference to them in
-  the method, class, or fucntion (including, if appropriate, the
+  the method, class, or function (including, if appropriate, the
   ``@_deprecated_kwarg_check`` decorator), and remove them from the
   relevant documentation ``.rst`` files.
 
@@ -67,10 +66,6 @@
   ./test_tutorial_code
   ```
 
-- [ ] **Follow all of the steps outlined externally in [`RECIPES.md`](./RECIPES.md)**,
-  notably so that the correct Sphinx-related environment is prepared for
-  documentation building.
-
 - [ ] Ensure that the [PDF for Cheat Sheet](docs/_downloads/cheatsheet.pdf) 
   is updated to include any API changes. The PDF is created using Canva 
   keeping in mind the colours and fonts of the website. The same could 

diff --git a/cf/__init__.py b/cf/__init__.py
@@ -85,16 +85,16 @@
 from packaging.version import Version
 
 
-__date__ = "2025-10-16"
-__version__ = "3.18.2"
+__date__ = "2026-01-16"
+__version__ = "3.19.0"
 __cf_version__ = cfdm.__cf_version__
 __Conventions__ = f"CF-{__cf_version__}"
 
 # Check the version of cfdm (this is worth doing because of the very
 # tight coupling between cf and cfdm, and the risk of bad things
 # happening at run time if the versions are mismatched).
-_minimum_vn = "1.12.3.1"
-_maximum_vn = "1.12.4.0"
+_minimum_vn = "1.13.0.0"
+_maximum_vn = "1.13.1.0"
 _cfdm_vn = Version(cfdm.__version__)
 if _cfdm_vn < Version(_minimum_vn) or _cfdm_vn >= Version(_maximum_vn):
     raise RuntimeError(

diff --git a/cf/functions.py b/cf/functions.py
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ def configuration(
             The new display data option. The default is to not change
             the current behaviour.
 
-            .. versionadded:: NEXTVERSION
+            .. versionadded:: 3.19.0
 
         regrid_logging: `bool` or `Constant`, optional
             The new value (either True to enable logging or False to
@@ -1504,7 +1504,7 @@ def total_memory():
 def is_log_level_info(logger):
     """Return True if and only if log level is at least as verbose as INFO.
 
-    Deprecated at version NEXTVERSION and is no longer available. Use
+    Deprecated at version 3.19.0 and is no longer available. Use
     `cfdm.is_log_level_info` instead.
 
     .. versionadded:: 3.16.3
@@ -1525,7 +1525,7 @@ def is_log_level_info(logger):
     _DEPRECATION_ERROR_FUNCTION(
         "is_log_level_info",
         message="Use cfdm.is_log_level_info instead",
-        version="NEXTVERSION",
+        version="3.19.0",
         removed_at="5.0.0",
     )  # pragma: no cover
 

diff --git a/cf/read_write/read.py b/cf/read_write/read.py
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ class read(cfdm.read):
 
         {{read store_dataset_shards: `bool`, optional}}
 
-            .. versionadded:: NEXTVERSION
+            .. versionadded:: 3.19.0
 
         {{read cfa: `dict`, optional}}
 
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ class read(cfdm.read):
 
         {{read group_dimension_search: `str`, optional}}
 
-            .. versionadded:: NEXTVERSION
+            .. versionadded:: 3.19.0
 
         umversion: deprecated at version 3.0.0
             Use the *um* parameter instead.

diff --git a/docs/source/aggregation_rules.rst b/docs/source/aggregation_rules.rst
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@
 **Aggregation rules**
 =====================
 
-----
-
 Version |release| for version |version| of the CF conventions.
 
 *David Hassell and Jonathan Gregory (2012)*

diff --git a/docs/source/api_reference.rst b/docs/source/api_reference.rst
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 **API reference**
 =================
 
-----
-
 Version |release| for version |version| of the CF conventions.
 
 * **Construct classes**

diff --git a/docs/source/cheat_sheet.rst b/docs/source/cheat_sheet.rst
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
 **Cheat Sheet**
 ===============
 
-----
-
 Version |release| for version |version| of the CF conventions.
 
 This cheat sheet provides a summary of some key functions and methods in 

diff --git a/docs/source/class/cf.Data.rst b/docs/source/class/cf.Data.rst
@@ -659,6 +659,11 @@ Performance
    ~cf.Data.fits_in_memory
    ~cf.Data.section
    ~cf.Data.persist
+   ~cf.Data.cache_elements
+   ~cf.Data.get_cached_elements
+   ~cf.Data.nc_clear_dataset_shards
+   ~cf.Data.nc_dataset_shards
+   ~cf.Data.nc_set_dataset_shards
 
 .. rubric:: Attributes
 

diff --git a/docs/source/function.rst b/docs/source/function.rst
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ Reading and writing
 
    cf.read 
    cf.write
-   cf.netcdf_lock
 
 Aggregation
 -----------
@@ -157,7 +156,6 @@ Active storage reductions
    cf.active_storage
    cf.active_storage_url
    cf.active_storage_max_requests
-   cf.netcdf_lock
 
 Miscellaneous
 -------------

diff --git a/docs/source/installation.rst b/docs/source/installation.rst
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ Required
 
 * `scipy <https://pypi.org/project/scipy>`_, version 1.10.0 or newer.
 
-* `cfdm <https://pypi.org/project/cfdm/>`_, version 1.12.3.1 or up to,
-  but not including, 1.12.4.0.
+* `cfdm <https://pypi.org/project/cfdm/>`_, version 1.13.0.0 or up to,
+  but not including, 1.13.1.0.
 
 * `cfunits <https://pypi.org/project/cfunits/>`_, version 3.3.7 or newer.
 

diff --git a/docs/source/introduction.rst b/docs/source/introduction.rst
@@ -93,8 +93,6 @@ The `cf` package can:
 
 * create subspaces of field constructs,
 
-* write field constructs to netCDF datasets on disk,
-
 * incorporate, and create, metadata stored in external files,
 
 * read, write, and create data that have been compressed by convention

diff --git a/docs/source/releases.rst b/docs/source/releases.rst
@@ -13,10 +13,15 @@ Documentation for all versions of cf.
    :local:
    :backlinks: entry
 
+**CF-1.13**
+-----------
+
+* `Version 3.19.0 <https://ncas-cms.github.io/cf-python-docs/3.19.0>`_ (2026-01-16)
+
 **CF-1.12**
 -----------
 
-* `Version 3.18.2 <https://ncas-cms.github.io/cf-python-docs/3.18.1>`_ (2025-10-16)
+* `Version 3.18.2 <https://ncas-cms.github.io/cf-python-docs/3.18.2>`_ (2025-10-16)
 * `Version 3.18.1 <https://ncas-cms.github.io/cf-python-docs/3.18.1>`_ (2025-08-20)
 * `Version 3.18.0 <https://ncas-cms.github.io/cf-python-docs/3.18.0>`_ (2025-06-05)
 * `Version 3.17.0 <https://ncas-cms.github.io/cf-python-docs/3.17.0>`_ (2025-04-02)

diff --git a/docs/source/spelling_false_positives.txt b/docs/source/spelling_false_positives.txt
@@ -449,8 +449,9 @@ seterr
 setitem
 setmask
 setprop
-Signell
 shapefiles
+sharding
+Signell
 sinh
 spacings
 spatiotemporal

diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 netCDF4==1.7.2
 cftime>=1.6.4
 numpy>=2.0.0
-cfdm>=1.12.3.1, <1.12.4.0
+cfdm>=1.13.0.0, <1.13.1.0
 psutil>=0.6.0
 cfunits>=3.3.7
 dask>=2025.5.1

diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
@@ -198,8 +198,6 @@ def compile():
 
 * create subspaces of field constructs,
 
-* write field constructs to netCDF datasets on disk,
-
 * incorporate, and create, metadata stored in external files,
 
 * read, write, and create data that have been compressed by convention