Europe’s New AI Weather Model Is Faster, Smarter, and Free—Here’s What to Know

The European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) just launched an AI-powered forecasting model, which the center says outperforms state-of-the-art physics-based models by up to 20%. The model is dubbed the Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS). According to an ECMWF release, the new model operates at faster speeds than physics-based models and takes approximately 1,000 times less energy to make a forecast. The ECMWF, now in its 50th year of operation, produced ENS, one of the world’s leading medium-range weather prediction models. Medium-range forecasting includes weather predictions made between three days and 15 days in advance, but ECMWF also forecasts weather up to a year ahead. Weather forecast models are essential for states and local governments to stay prepared for extreme weather events—as well as for more daily needs, like knowing what the weather will be like on your upcoming vacation. Traditional weather prediction models make forecasts by solvi ... Read full article.