diff --git a/src/data_input/__init__.py b/src/data_input/__init__.py
index 403683d9..c6b12d7b 100644
--- a/src/data_input/__init__.py
+++ b/src/data_input/__init__.py
@@ -367,7 +367,6 @@ def load_INCA_baseline_from_netcdf(
                  non-hourly timestamps.
         fill_missing_files: If True, missing files are filled with NaN arrays instead
                  of raising. Defaults to True.
-
     Returns:
         xr.Dataset with dimensions (time, y, x) and coordinates:
           x, y  – Swiss CH1903 (EPSG:21781) easting/northing [m]
@@ -416,6 +415,84 @@ def _nan_array(units: str) -> xr.DataArray:
             attrs={"units": units},
         )
 
+    def _open_convert(rt: datetime, pfx: str) -> tuple[Path, xr.DataArray | None]:
+        """Open an INCA file and apply unit conversion.
+
+        Returns (path, DataArray) on success, (path, None) when the file is missing.
+        """
+        fp = (
+            root
+            / f"{rt.year:04d}"
+            / f"{rt.month:02d}"
+            / f"{pfx}_INCA_{rt:%Y%m%d%H%M}.nc"
+        )
+        try:
+            d = xr.open_dataset(fp, drop_variables=["grid_mapping"]).rename(
+                {"chx": "x", "chy": "y"}
+            )
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            return fp, None
+        LOG.info("Reading %s", fp)
+        da = d[pfx]
+        u = da.attrs.get("units", "")
+        if u == "degrees C":
+            da = (da - ZERO_KELVIN).assign_attrs({**da.attrs, "units": "K"})
+        elif u == "mm/h":
+            da = da.assign_attrs({**da.attrs, "units": "kg m-2"})
+        return fp, da
+
+    def _load_shifted(param: str, prefix: str) -> xr.DataArray:
+        """Load T_2M / TD_2M working around the INCA full-hour bug.
+
+        For reftimes at full hours (HH:00), steps 1-N in the current run file are
+        affected by a known INCA bug.  Step 0 is taken from the current reftime;
+        steps 1+ are taken from the run 10 min earlier (HH-1:50), which is unaffected.
+        """
+        prev_rf = reftime - timedelta(minutes=10)
+        LOG.info(
+            "Applying INCA shifted-run workaround for %s: step 0 from %s, steps 1+ from %s",
+            param,
+            reftime,
+            prev_rf,
+        )
+        parts: list[xr.DataArray] = []
+
+        # Step 0 from current reftime file
+        zero_idx = [i for i, s in enumerate(steps) if s == 0]
+        if zero_idx:
+            fp, da_raw = _open_convert(reftime, prefix)
+            if da_raw is None:
+                if not fill_missing_files:
+                    raise FileNotFoundError(
+                        f"INCA file not found for parameter {param!r}: {fp}"
+                    )
+                LOG.warning("INCA file not found, filling %s with NaN: %s", param, fp)
+                parts.append(_nan_array(PARAM_UNITS[param]).isel(time=zero_idx))
+            else:
+                parts.append(
+                    da_raw.isel(time=zero_idx).assign_coords(time=valid_times[zero_idx])
+                )
+
+        # Steps 1+ from previous reftime file (positional index = step value)
+        nz_idx = [i for i, s in enumerate(steps) if s != 0]
+        if nz_idx:
+            nz_steps = [steps[i] for i in nz_idx]
+            fp, da_raw = _open_convert(prev_rf, prefix)
+            if da_raw is None:
+                if not fill_missing_files:
+                    raise FileNotFoundError(
+                        f"INCA file not found for parameter {param!r}: {fp}"
+                    )
+                LOG.warning("INCA file not found, filling %s with NaN: %s", param, fp)
+                parts.append(_nan_array(PARAM_UNITS[param]).isel(time=nz_idx))
+            else:
+                parts.append(
+                    da_raw.isel(time=nz_steps).assign_coords(time=valid_times[nz_idx])
+                )
+
+        da = xr.concat(parts, dim="time") if len(parts) > 1 else parts[0]
+        return da.rename(param)
+
     # Maps output variable name -> INCA file prefix, per freq.
     # File prefix == variable name inside the NetCDF file.
     PARAM_TO_PREFIX: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {
@@ -494,9 +571,17 @@ def _nan_array(units: str) -> xr.DataArray:
             datasets[param] = _nan_array("unknown").rename(param)
             continue
 
-    # load parameter by parameter
+    # T_2M and TD_2M are affected by a known INCA bug at full-hour reftimes (steps 1-6).
+    # Use the run from 10 min earlier for those steps; see _load_shifted().
+    _SHIFTED_PARAMS = {"T_2M", "TD_2M"}
+
     for param in to_load:
         prefix = prefix_map[param]
+
+        if param in _SHIFTED_PARAMS and freq == "1h":
+            datasets[param] = _load_shifted(param, prefix)
+            continue
+
         filepath = (
             root
             / f"{reftime.year:04d}"
@@ -514,6 +599,7 @@ def _nan_array(units: str) -> xr.DataArray:
             LOG.warning("INCA file not found, filling %s with NaN: %s", param, filepath)
             datasets[param] = _nan_array(PARAM_UNITS[param]).rename(param)
             continue
+        LOG.info("Reading %s", filepath)
         # Convert units if necessary
         da = ds_var[prefix]
         units = da.attrs.get("units", "")
@@ -525,7 +611,7 @@ def _nan_array(units: str) -> xr.DataArray:
         # at timestamps absent from their native resolution
         datasets[param] = da.rename(param).reindex(time=valid_times)
 
-    merged = xr.merge(list(datasets.values()), join="override")
+    merged = xr.merge(list(datasets.values()), join="override", compat="override")
 
     # Add lat/lon derived from the x/y coordinates in the loaded NetCDF files
     merged = merged.assign_coords(**_chxy_to_latlon(merged.x.values, merged.y.values))