diff --git a/modules/aeolus/aeolus_amv.py b/modules/aeolus/aeolus_amv.py
index ccfb54ff45f181d6b9f4dbc0e7905a88613da496..3689822c0ea7c92fb19dea73bd8ab2aa7ef94c7c 100644
--- a/modules/aeolus/aeolus_amv.py
+++ b/modules/aeolus/aeolus_amv.py
@@ -2104,33 +2104,42 @@ def create_bestfit_file(filename, match_dct, raob_dct, raob_ts, gfs_at_raob_dct,
 
     prf_dir = rootgrp.createVariable('raob_dir', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_raob_levels'])
     prf_dir.units = 'degree'
+    prf_dir[:,] = np.nan
     prf_spd = rootgrp.createVariable('raob_spd', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_raob_levels'])
     prf_spd.units = 'm s-1'
+    prf_spd[:,] = np.nan
     prf_lvl = rootgrp.createVariable('raob_levels', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_raob_levels'])
     prf_lvl.units = 'hPa'
+    prf_lvl[:,] = np.nan
 
     # ----- Product variables ----------------
     nc4_vars = []
     amv_lon = rootgrp.createVariable('amv_lon', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     amv_lon.units = 'degrees_east'
+    amv_lon[:,] = np.nan
     nc4_vars.append(amv_lon)
 
     amv_lat = rootgrp.createVariable('amv_lat', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     amv_lat.units = 'degrees_north'
+    amv_lat[:,] = np.nan
     nc4_vars.append(amv_lat)
 
     amv_elem = rootgrp.createVariable('amv_elem', 'i4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     amv_elem.long_name = 'FGF x coordinate Full Disk GOES16'
+    amv_elem[:,] = -9999
     nc4_vars.append(amv_elem)
 
     amv_line = rootgrp.createVariable('amv_line', 'i4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     amv_line.long_name = 'FGF y coordinate Full Disk GOES16'
+    amv_line[:,] = -9999
     nc4_vars.append(amv_line)
 
     dist_to_raob = rootgrp.createVariable('dist_to_raob', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     dist_to_raob.units = 'km'
+    dist_to_raob[:,] = np.nan
 
     amv_source_index = rootgrp.createVariable('amv_source_index', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
+    amv_source_index[:,] = -9999
 
     var_s = rg_exmpl.variables
     for pidx, param in enumerate(amv_params):
@@ -2155,16 +2164,19 @@ def create_bestfit_file(filename, match_dct, raob_dct, raob_ts, gfs_at_raob_dct,
     var_u.standard_name = 'eastward_wind'
     var_u.long_name = 'wind at bestfit level with raob as background profile'
     var_u.units = 'm s-1'
+    var_u[:,] = np.nan
 
     var_v = rootgrp.createVariable('bf_raob_v', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     var_v.standard_name = 'northward_wind'
     var_v.long_name = 'wind at bestfit level with raob as background profile'
     var_v.units = 'm s-1'
+    var_v[:,] = np.nan
 
     var_p = rootgrp.createVariable('bf_raob_press', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     var_p.standard_name = 'air_pressure'
     var_p.long_name = 'pressure level of bestfit with raob as background profile'
     var_p.units = 'hPa'
+    var_p[:,] = np.nan
 
     var_flg = rootgrp.createVariable('bf_raob_flag', 'i4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
 
@@ -2172,16 +2184,19 @@ def create_bestfit_file(filename, match_dct, raob_dct, raob_ts, gfs_at_raob_dct,
     var_u_g.standard_name = 'eastward_wind'
     var_u_g.long_name = 'wind at bestfit level with GFS as background profile'
     var_u_g.units = 'm s-1'
+    var_u_g[:,] = np.nan
 
     var_v_g = rootgrp.createVariable('bf_gfs_v', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     var_v_g.standard_name = 'northward_wind'
     var_v_g.long_name = 'wind at bestfit level with GFS as background profile'
     var_v_g.units = 'm s-1'
+    var_v_g[:,] = np.nan
 
     var_p_g = rootgrp.createVariable('bf_gfs_press', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     var_p_g.standard_name = 'air_pressure'
     var_p_g.long_name = 'pressure level of bestfit with GFS as background profile'
     var_p_g.units = 'hPa'
+    var_p_g[:,] = np.nan
 
     var_flg_g = rootgrp.createVariable('bf_gfs_flag', 'i4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
 
@@ -2189,16 +2204,19 @@ def create_bestfit_file(filename, match_dct, raob_dct, raob_ts, gfs_at_raob_dct,
     var_u_cp.standard_name = 'eastward_wind'
     var_u_cp.long_name = 'wind at closest raob pressure level to amv within +/- 60mb'
     var_u_cp.units = 'm s-1'
+    var_u_cp[:,] = np.nan
 
     var_v_cp = rootgrp.createVariable('closest_press_v', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     var_v_cp.standard_name = 'northward_wind'
     var_v_cp.long_name = 'wind at closest raob pressure level to amv within +/- 60mb'
     var_v_cp.units = 'm s-1'
+    var_v_cp[:,] = np.nan
 
     var_p_cp = rootgrp.createVariable('closest_press', 'f4', ['time', 'num_raob_profs', 'max_num_amvs'])
     var_p_cp.standard_name = 'air_pressure'
     var_p_cp.long_name = 'closest raob pressure level to amv within +/- 60mb'
     var_p_cp.units = 'hPa'
+    var_p_cp[:,] = np.nan
 
     # Write data to file  ---------------------
     time[0] = raob_ts