diff --git a/Externals.cfg b/Externals.cfg
index bd79f5e2ea..ac4daad397 100644
--- a/Externals.cfg
+++ b/Externals.cfg
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ protocol = git
 required = True
 
 [GSI]
-tag = gfsda.v16.3.19
+tag = gfsda.v16.3.20
 local_path = sorc/gsi.fd
 repo_url = https://github.com/NOAA-EMC/GSI.git
 protocol = git
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ protocol = git
 required = True
 
 [UFS_UTILS]
-tag = ops-gfsv16.3.0
+tag = ops-gfsv16.3.20
 local_path = sorc/ufs_utils.fd
 repo_url = https://github.com/ufs-community/UFS_UTILS.git
 protocol = git
diff --git a/docs/Release_Notes.md b/docs/Release_Notes.md
index 520474eb77..ba8ec2fc0c 100644
--- a/docs/Release_Notes.md
+++ b/docs/Release_Notes.md
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ The checkout script extracts the following GFS components:
 | --------- | ----------- | ----------------- |
 | MODEL     | GFS.v16.3.1   | Jun.Wang@noaa.gov |
 | GLDAS     | gldas_gfsv16_release.v.2.1.0 | Helin.Wei@noaa.gov |
-| GSI       | gfsda.v16.3.19 | Andrew.Collard@noaa.gov |
-| UFS_UTILS | ops-gfsv16.3.0 | George.Gayno@noaa.gov |
+| GSI       | gfsda.v16.3.20 | Andrew.Collard@noaa.gov |
+| UFS_UTILS | ops-gfsv16.3.20 | George.Gayno@noaa.gov |
 | POST      | upp_v8.3.0 | Wen.Meng@noaa.gov |
 
 To build all the GFS components, execute:
@@ -188,3 +188,5 @@ DOCUMENTATION
 PREPARED BY
 -----------
 Kate.Friedman@noaa.gov
+Yali.Mao@noaa.gov
+Rahul.Mahajan@noaa.gov
diff --git a/jobs/JGLOBAL_ATMOS_EMCSFC_SFC_PREP b/jobs/JGLOBAL_ATMOS_EMCSFC_SFC_PREP
index 90448269d0..9da802f67d 100755
--- a/jobs/JGLOBAL_ATMOS_EMCSFC_SFC_PREP
+++ b/jobs/JGLOBAL_ATMOS_EMCSFC_SFC_PREP
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ date
 #############################
 # Source relevant config files
 #############################
-configs="base"
+configs="base sfcprep"
 export EXPDIR=${EXPDIR:-$HOMEgfs/parm/config}
 config_path=${EXPDIR:-$NWROOT/gfs.${gfs_ver}/parm/config}
 for config in $configs; do
@@ -17,6 +17,13 @@ for config in $configs; do
     [[ $status -ne 0 ]] && exit $status
 done
 
+##########################################
+# Source machine runtime environment
+##########################################
+. $HOMEgfs/env/${machine}.env sfcprep
+status=$?
+[[ $status -ne 0 ]] && exit $status
+
 
 ##############################################
 # Obtain unique process id (pid) and make temp directory
@@ -64,8 +71,7 @@ export COMIN_m6hrs=${COMIN_m6hrs:-$(compath.py ${envir}/${NET}/${gfs_ver})/${RUN
 
 export IMS_FILE=${COMINobsproc}/${RUN}.${cycle}.imssnow96.grib2
 export FIVE_MIN_ICE_FILE=${COMINobsproc}/${RUN}.${cycle}.seaice.5min.grib2
-export AFWA_NH_FILE=${COMINobsproc}/${RUN}.${cycle}.NPR.SNWN.SP.S1200.MESH16.grb
-export AFWA_SH_FILE=${COMINobsproc}/${RUN}.${cycle}.NPR.SNWS.SP.S1200.MESH16.grb
+export AFWA_GLOBAL_FILE=${COMINobsproc}/${RUN}.${cycle}.snow.usaf.grib2
 
 export BLENDED_ICE_FILE=${BLENDED_ICE_FILE:-${RUN}.${cycle}.seaice.5min.blend.grb}
 export BLENDED_ICE_FILE_m6hrs=${BLENDED_ICE_FILE_m6hrs:-${COMIN_m6hrs}/${RUN}.${cycle_m6hrs}.seaice.5min.blend.grb}
diff --git a/jobs/rocoto/sfcprep.sh b/jobs/rocoto/sfcprep.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..986a794e7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jobs/rocoto/sfcprep.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/bin/ksh -x
+
+###############################################################
+# Source FV3GFS workflow modules
+. $HOMEgfs/ush/load_fv3gfs_modules.sh
+status=$?
+[[ $status -ne 0 ]] && exit $status
+
+###############################################################
+# Execute the JJOB
+$HOMEgfs/jobs/JGLOBAL_ATMOS_EMCSFC_SFC_PREP
+status=$?
+exit $status
diff --git a/parm/config/config.base.emc.dyn b/parm/config/config.base.emc.dyn
index 70cb4110d9..3b1e05244d 100755
--- a/parm/config/config.base.emc.dyn
+++ b/parm/config/config.base.emc.dyn
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ export NOSCRUB="@NOSCRUB@"
 # Base directories for various builds
 export BASE_GIT="@BASE_GIT@"
 
+# Toggle to turn on/off EMCSFC_SFC_PREP job
+export DO_SFCPREP="NO"    # SNOGRB dump file production
+
 # Toggle to turn on/off GFS downstream processing.
 export DO_BUFRSND="YES"    # BUFR sounding products
 export DO_GEMPAK="NO"      # GEMPAK products
diff --git a/parm/config/config.resources.emc.dyn b/parm/config/config.resources.emc.dyn
index 370b29a04a..f322371c68 100755
--- a/parm/config/config.resources.emc.dyn
+++ b/parm/config/config.resources.emc.dyn
@@ -36,7 +36,16 @@ elif [[ "$machine" = "ORION" ]]; then
    export npe_node_max=40
 fi
 
-if [ $step = "prep" -o $step = "prepbufr" ]; then
+if [ $step = "sfcprep" ]; then
+
+    export wtime_sfcprep="00:08:00"
+    export npe_sfcprep=1
+    export nth_sfcprep=1
+    export npe_node_sfcprep=1
+    export NTASKS=$npe_sfcprep
+    export memory_sfcprep="2GB"
+
+elif [ $step = "prep" -o $step = "prepbufr" ]; then
 
     eval "export wtime_$step='00:45:00'"
     eval "export npe_$step=4"
diff --git a/parm/config/config.sfcprep b/parm/config/config.sfcprep
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..94cfc4d2a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parm/config/config.sfcprep
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/bin/ksh -x
+
+########## config.sfcprep ##########
+# Prep step specific
+
+echo "BEGIN: config.sfcprep"
+
+# Get task specific resources
+. $EXPDIR/config.resources sfcprep
+
+if [[ $RUN_ENVIR == "emc" ]]; then
+
+  export SENDCOM="YES"
+  export COMOUT=${COMOUTatmos}
+  export COMINobsproc=${DMPDIR}/${CDUMP}.${PDY}/${cyc}/atmos
+  export COMIN_m6hrs=${DMPDIR}/${GDUMP}.${gPDY}/${gcyc}/atmos
+
+fi
+
+echo "END: config.sfcprep"
diff --git a/sorc/checkout.sh b/sorc/checkout.sh
index 8aa2634219..017d42b72d 100755
--- a/sorc/checkout.sh
+++ b/sorc/checkout.sh
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fi
 echo gsi checkout ...
 if [[ ! -d gsi.fd ]] ; then
     rm -f ${topdir}/checkout-gsi.log
-    git clone --recursive --branch gfsda.v16.3.19 https://github.com/NOAA-EMC/GSI.git gsi.fd >> ${topdir}/checkout-gsi.log 2>&1
+    git clone --recursive --branch gfsda.v16.3.20 https://github.com/NOAA-EMC/GSI.git gsi.fd >> ${topdir}/checkout-gsi.log 2>&1
     cd gsi.fd
     git submodule update --init
     cd ${topdir}
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ fi
 echo ufs_utils checkout ...
 if [[ ! -d ufs_utils.fd ]] ; then
     rm -f ${topdir}/checkout-ufs_utils.log
-    git clone --branch ops-gfsv16.3.0 https://github.com/ufs-community/UFS_UTILS ufs_utils.fd >> ${topdir}/checkout-ufs_utils.fd.log 2>&1
+    git clone --branch ops-gfsv16.3.20 https://github.com/ufs-community/UFS_UTILS ufs_utils.fd >> ${topdir}/checkout-ufs_utils.fd.log 2>&1
     cd ${topdir}
 else
     echo 'Skip.  Directory ufs_utils.fd already exists.'
diff --git a/ush/rocoto/setup_workflow.py b/ush/rocoto/setup_workflow.py
index 8bcdd60a26..4826d1a5fc 100755
--- a/ush/rocoto/setup_workflow.py
+++ b/ush/rocoto/setup_workflow.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ def main():
     steps = steps + wav_steps_gempak if _base.get('DO_GEMPAK', 'NO') == 'YES' else steps
     steps = steps + wav_steps_awips if _base.get('DO_AWIPS', 'NO') == 'YES' else steps
     steps = steps + ['wdqms'] if _base.get('DO_WDQMS', 'NO') == 'YES' else steps
+    steps = steps + ['sfcprep'] if _base.get('DO_SFCPREP', 'NO') == 'YES' else steps
 
     dict_configs = wfu.source_configs(configs, steps)
 
@@ -244,10 +245,13 @@ def get_gdasgfs_resources(dict_configs, cdump='gdas'):
     do_wdqms = base.get('DO_WDQMS', 'NO').upper()
     do_wave = base.get('DO_WAVE', 'NO').upper()
     do_wave_cdump = base.get('WAVE_CDUMP', 'BOTH').upper()
+    do_sfcprep = base.get('DO_SFCPREP', 'NO').upper()
     reservation = base.get('RESERVATION', 'NONE').upper()
 
-    #tasks = ['prep', 'anal', 'fcst', 'post', 'vrfy', 'arch']
-    tasks = ['prep', 'anal', 'analcalc']
+    if do_sfcprep in ['Y', 'YES']:
+        tasks = ['sfcprep', 'prep', 'anal', 'analcalc']
+    else:
+        tasks = ['prep', 'anal', 'analcalc']
 
     if cdump in ['gdas']:
         tasks += ['analdiag']
@@ -412,14 +416,29 @@ def get_gdasgfs_tasks(dict_configs, cdump='gdas'):
     do_wdqms = base.get('DO_WDQMS', 'NO').upper()
     do_wave = base.get('DO_WAVE', 'NO').upper()
     do_wave_cdump = base.get('WAVE_CDUMP', 'BOTH').upper()
+    do_sfcprep = base.get('DO_SFCPREP', 'NO').upper()
     dumpsuffix = base.get('DUMP_SUFFIX', '')
     gridsuffix = base.get('SUFFIX', '')
 
     dict_tasks = OrderedDict()
 
+    # sfcprep (emcsfc_sfc_prep)
+    if do_sfcprep in ['Y', 'YES']:
+        deps = []
+        dep_dict = {'type': 'metatask', 'name': f'{"gdas"}post', 'offset': '-06:00:00'}
+        deps.append(rocoto.add_dependency(dep_dict))
+        data = f'&DMPDIR;/{cdump}{dumpsuffix}.@Y@m@d/@H/atmos/{cdump}.t@Hz.snow.usaf.grib2'
+        dep_dict = {'type': 'data', 'data': data}
+        dependencies = rocoto.create_dependency(dep_condition='and', dep=deps)
+        task = wfu.create_wf_task('sfcprep', cdump=cdump, envar=envars, dependency=dependencies)
+        dict_tasks[f'{cdump}sfcprep'] = task
+
     # prep
     deps = []
-    dep_dict = {'type': 'metatask', 'name': f'{"gdas"}post', 'offset': '-06:00:00'}
+    if do_sfcprep in ['Y', 'YES']:
+        dep_dict = {'type': 'task', 'name': f'{cdump}sfcprep'}
+    else:
+        dep_dict = {'type': 'metatask', 'name': f'{"gdas"}post', 'offset': '-06:00:00'}
     deps.append(rocoto.add_dependency(dep_dict))
     data = f'&ROTDIR;/gdas.@Y@m@d/@H/atmos/gdas.t@Hz.atmf009{gridsuffix}'
     dep_dict = {'type': 'data', 'data': data, 'offset': '-06:00:00'}
diff --git a/versions/hera.ver b/versions/hera.ver
index 2e3b10ad52..9f0ef297e5 100644
--- a/versions/hera.ver
+++ b/versions/hera.ver
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ export hpc_ver=1.2.0
 export hpc_intel_ver=18.0.5.274
 export hpc_impi_ver=2018.0.4
 
-export obsproc_run_ver=1.2.0
-export prepobs_run_ver=1.1.0
+export obsproc_run_ver=1.3.0
+export prepobs_run_ver=1.2.0
 
 export hpss_ver=hpss
 export prod_util_ver=1.2.2
diff --git a/versions/orion.ver b/versions/orion.ver
index 9980daefd7..96a262641d 100644
--- a/versions/orion.ver
+++ b/versions/orion.ver
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ export hpc_ver=1.2.0
 export hpc_intel_ver=2018.4
 export hpc_impi_ver=2018.4
 
-export obsproc_run_ver=1.2.0
-export prepobs_run_ver=1.1.0
+export obsproc_run_ver=1.3.0
+export prepobs_run_ver=1.2.0
 
 export prod_util_ver=1.2.2
 export cmake_ver=3.22.1
diff --git a/versions/run.ver b/versions/run.ver
index 3609bb8f2d..112e94982a 100755
--- a/versions/run.ver
+++ b/versions/run.ver
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ export ecmwf_ver=v2.1
 export nam_ver=v4.2
 export rtofs_ver=v2.4
 export radarl2_ver=v1.2
-export obsproc_ver=v1.2
+export obsproc_ver=v1.3
 
 export PrgEnv_intel_ver=8.1.0
 export intel_ver=19.1.3.304
diff --git a/versions/wcoss2.ver b/versions/wcoss2.ver
index 674a750aa5..5ef1d7ef95 100644
--- a/versions/wcoss2.ver
+++ b/versions/wcoss2.ver
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ export envvar_ver=1.0
 export prod_envir_ver=${prod_envir_ver:-2.0.4} # Allow override from ops ecflow
 export prod_util_ver=${prod_util_ver:-2.0.9}   # Allow override from ops ecflow
 
-export obsproc_run_ver=1.2.0
-export prepobs_run_ver=1.1.0
+export obsproc_run_ver=1.3.0
+export prepobs_run_ver=1.2.0
 
 export tracker_ver=v1.1.15.5
 export fit_ver="newm.1.5"