Feature #3015 v12.0.0-rc1 (#3017)

* Per #3015, update the release version number and add release notes.

* Per #3015, add one upgrade instruction

docs/Users_Guide/release-notes.rst

@@ -9,6 +9,32 @@ When applicable, release notes are followed by the GitHub issue number which des
 enhancement, or new feature (`MET GitHub issues <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues>`_).
 Important issues are listed **in bold** for emphasis.
 
+MET Version 12.0.0-rc1 Release Notes (20241114)
+-----------------------------------------------
+
+  .. dropdown:: Bugfixes
+
+     * Fix the wind-based diagnostics computations in TC-Diag
+       (`#2729 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/2729>`_).
+
+  .. dropdown:: Enhancements
+
+     * Update ndbc_stations.xml after 7-character buoy ids are introduced in Aug/Sept 2023
+       (`#2631 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/2631>`_).
+     * Update GRIB tables in MET based on wgrib2 versions 3.1.4 and 3.4.0
+       (`#2780 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/2780>`_).
+     * Enhance MET to parse the set_attr options prior reading data from gridded data files
+       (`#2826 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/2826>`_).
+     * Eliminate Point2Grid warning when no valid output data is found
+       (`#3000 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/3000>`_).
+
+  .. dropdown:: Documentation
+
+     * Enhance MTD documentation so that tables 21.3 and 21.4 have units
+       (`#2750 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/2750>`_).
+     * Update documentation about parsing grid information from CF-compliant NetCDF files
+       (`#3009 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/3009>`_).
+
 MET Version 12.0.0-beta6 Release Notes (20241018)
 -------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -205,3 +231,4 @@ MET Version 12.0.0 Upgrade Instructions
   * The optional `ecKit <https://github.com/ecmwf/eckit>`_ library dependency was added in the 12.0.0-beta2 development cycle (`#2574 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/2574>`_).
 
 * Note that the `#2833 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/2833>`_ bugfix affects all previously generated output from the TC-Diag and TC-RMW tools.
+* Note that the GRIB table updates in `#2780 <https://github.com/dtcenter/MET/issues/2780>`_ modified some existing units strings for consistency and clarity.

docs/conf.py

@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@
 project = 'MET'
 author = 'UCAR/NCAR, NOAA, CSU/CIRA, and CU/CIRES'
 author_list = 'Prestopnik, J., H. Soh, L. Goodrich, B. Brown, R. Bullock, J. Halley Gotway, K. Newman, J. Opatz, T. Jensen'
-version = '12.0.0-beta6'
+version = '12.0.0-rc1'
 verinfo = version
 release = f'{version}'
 release_year = '2024'
-release_date = f'{release_year}-10-18'
+release_date = f'{release_year}-11-14'
 copyright = f'{release_year}, {author}'
 
 # -- General configuration ---------------------------------------------------