diff --git a/sorc/checkout.sh b/sorc/checkout.sh
index 4b40a9f5f0..1109a574b8 100755
--- a/sorc/checkout.sh
+++ b/sorc/checkout.sh
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ echo ufs-weather-model checkout ...
 if [[ ! -d ufs_model.fd ]] ; then
     git clone https://github.com/ufs-community/ufs-weather-model ufs_model.fd >> ${logdir}/checkout-ufs_model.log 2>&1
     cd ufs_model.fd
-    git checkout ${ufs_model_hash:-803e03adcf14f2b108b013fd1b54055ec2124caa}
+    git checkout ${ufs_model_hash:-release/P8a}
     git submodule update --init --recursive
     cd ${topdir}
 else