diff --git a/scripts/python/examples/read_met_point_obs_pandas.py b/scripts/python/examples/read_met_point_obs_pandas.py
index 51613ae3b6..bf7bb5527b 100644
--- a/scripts/python/examples/read_met_point_obs_pandas.py
+++ b/scripts/python/examples/read_met_point_obs_pandas.py
@@ -33,8 +33,9 @@
 print("Input File:\t" + repr(input_file))
 
 # Read MET point observation NetCDF file
-point_obs = nc_point_obs()
-if not point_obs.read_data(input_file):
+try:
+    point_obs = nc_point_obs(input_file)
+except TypeError:
     print(f"ERROR: Could not read MET point data file {input_file}")
     sys.exit(1)
 
diff --git a/scripts/python/met/point_nc.py b/scripts/python/met/point_nc.py
index d3dfc4220c..c0773e65f7 100644
--- a/scripts/python/met/point_nc.py
+++ b/scripts/python/met/point_nc.py
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ def get_string_array(nc_group, var_name):
 
 class nc_point_obs(met_point_obs):
 
+   def __init__(self, nc_filename=None):
+      if nc_filename:
+         self.read_data(nc_filename)
+
    # args should be string, list, or dictionary
    def get_nc_filename(self, args):
       nc_filename = None
@@ -70,17 +74,14 @@ def get_nc_filename(self, args):
    def read_data(self, nc_filename):
       method_name = f"{self.__class__.__name__}.read_data()"
       if not nc_filename:
-         print(f"ERROR: {method_name} The input NetCDF filename is missing")
-         return False
+         raise TypeError(f"{method_name} The input NetCDF filename is missing")
       if not os.path.exists(nc_filename):
-         print(f"ERROR: {method_name} input NetCDF file ({nc_filename}) does not exist")
-         return False
+         raise TypeError(f"{method_name} input NetCDF file ({nc_filename}) does not exist")
 
       try:
-          dataset = nc.Dataset(nc_filename, 'r')
+         dataset = nc.Dataset(nc_filename, 'r')
       except OSError:
-         print(f"ERROR: {method_name} Could not open NetCDF file ({nc_filename}")
-         return False
+         raise TypeError(f"{method_name} Could not open NetCDF file ({nc_filename}")
 
       attr_name = 'use_var_id'
       use_var_id_str = dataset.getncattr(attr_name) if attr_name in dataset.ncattrs() else "false"
@@ -131,7 +132,6 @@ def read_data(self, nc_filename):
          self.obs_vid = np.array(nc_var[:])
 
       self.obs_qty_table = met_point_nc_tools.get_string_array(dataset, 'obs_qty_table')
-      return True
 
    def save_ncfile(self, nc_filename):
       met_data = self.get_point_data()