The list of weather models used in the Windy.app

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The weather depends on lots of different factors: wind speed, cloudiness, pressure, humidity, and others.

All of them can be measured and represented in meters per second, millimeters of mercury, etc. A mathematical weather model is a combination of all these factors. Such models tend to be very complex, powerful computers calculate them. Usually, weather models are provided by national weather services, but sometimes they can also be produced by groups of enthusiasts.

In this guide, we want to introduce you to our models, from which we get forecasts. Windy.app has two main types of forecast predictive models: global — on the map, and local — for a spot. There is also a third type of special global models for individual weather elements.

This is a comparision table and the main features of each model:

• Weather model is the source of the weather forecast. The model name is usually an acronym consisting of two or more words describing its origin, purpose, and other features, for example, ECMFW (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts).
• Territory is an area of land and sea for which the weather model makes a forecast. A local model may cover parts of the world and separate natural and geographical regions, such as Europe or the Mediterranean Sea.
• Spatial resolution is the distance between two points of the weather model grid. Bigger resolutions of 50 to 10 km in size are usually deployed in relatively flat terrains, while mountain ranges require the nodes to be a lot closer to each other, usually 5, 2, or 1 km.
• Forecast depth is the period or a number of days (hours) for which the forecast is made. As a rule, the lower the depth, the more accurate the forecast.
• Forecast step is the period of the weather forecast within one day or how many hours ahead you can see the forecast. There are two common steps types: 1 h and 3 h. In the Windy.app, you can choose one or another, because in models with 3 h step, we divide it up to 1 h.
• Expected update is a frequency of forecast updates during the day or the regular time interval after which new forecast data is received from the supercomputers by the weather models. For example, the forecast can be updated once a day, 2 times a day, and 4 times a day.Global weather models

Global weather models

ECMWF

ECMWF weather model, London weather in the Windy.app for iOS

ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) is a global weather model created and operated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts with headquarters in Reading, Berkshire county, United Kingdom, since December 9–10, 1971. The main feature of the model is that it is one the the two leading global weather models on par with GFS from the Unites States. It is also considered the best for precipitation and cloudness.

• Spatial resolution: 14 km (8.6 mi)
• Forecast depth: 10 days
• Forecast step: 1 h
• Expected update: 2 times a day (every 12 h)

Learn more about ECMFW weather model in the Windy.app blog

ECMWF-ENS

ECMWF-ENS weather model, Tokyo weather in the Windy.app for iOS

ECMWF-ENS (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Ensemble Model) is a global weather model by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Headquarters: Reading, UK. This weather model is also calle EN-ENS or Ensembles weather model.

• Resolution (grid): 27 km (mi)
• Depth (period): 6 days
• Step: 3 h
• Expected update: 4 times a day (every 6 h)

Learn more about ECMWF-ENS weather model in the Windy.app blog

GFS27

GFS27 weather model, New York weather in the Windy.app for iOS

GFS27 (Global Forecast System) is a global weather model by the The United States' National Weather Service.

• Resolution (grid): 27 km
• Depth (period): 10 days
• Step: 3 h
• Expected update: 4 times a day (every 6 h)

Learn more about GFS weather model in the Windy.app blog

GFS+

GFS+ weather model, Los Angeles weather in the Windy.app for iOS

GFS+ (Global Forecast System +) is a global weather model by the The United States' National Weather Service. While the GFS27 interpolates data for every dot within a 27 km x 27 km square, its modification GFS+, specially provided by Windy.app specialists, always shows only the maximum result in each square (radius of the spot).

• Resolution (grid): 27 km
• Depth (period): 10 days
• Step: 1 h
• Expected update: 4 time a day (every 6 h)

Learn more about GFS weather model in the Windy.app blog

ICON13

ICON13 weather model, Rio de Janeiro weather in the Windy.app for iOS

ICON13 ((Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic)) is a gloval weather model by the Deutscher Wetterdienst (German National Meteorological Service).

• Resolution (grid): 13 km
• Depth (period): 7,5 days
• Step: 1 h
• Expected update: 2 times a day (every 12 h)

Learn more about ICON weather model in the Windy.app blog

Regional (local) weather models

ICON7 — Europe

ICON7 weather model, Munich weather in the Windy.app for iOS

ICON7 ((Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic)) is a regional Europe weather model by the Deutscher Wetterdienst (German National Meteorological Service).

• Resolution (grid): 7 km
• Depth (period): 5 days
• Step: 1 h
• Expected update: 4 times a day (every 6 h)

Learn more about ICON weather model in the Windy.app blog

NAM — North America

NAM weather model, Chicago weather in the Windy.app for iOS

NAM (North American Mesoscale Forecast System) is a regional North America weather model by the The National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US (NOAA).

• Resolution (grid): 12 km
• Depth (period): 2,5 days
• Step: 1 h
• Expected update: 2 times a day (every 12 h)

Learn more about NAM weather model in the Windy.app blog

HRRR — North America

HRRR weather modesl, San Francisco weather in the Windy.app for iOS

HRRR (Name: High Resolution Rapid Refresh) is regional North America weather model by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US (NOAA). It provides a great forecast for the continental US, Canada and Mexico based with radars' data — the unique advantage of HRRR. It is assimilated every 15 min over a 1 h period. It gives short-range weather forecasts with pretty good accuracy.

• Resolution (grid): 3 km (1.9 mi)
• Depth (period): 1.5 days (36 h)
• Step: 1 h
• Expected update: 2 times a day (every 12 hours)

Learn more about HRRR weather forecast model in the Windy.app blog

Windy.app's WRF8 — Europe, East Asia (Japan and South Korea)

WRF8 weather model, Moscow weather in the Windy.app for iOS

The WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) is a regional weather model for Europe and East Asea (Japan and South Korea) by the Windy.app based on Open WRF weather model developed by several scientific laboratories in different countries. Using it, Windy.app's calculates a hyperlocal forecast on our servers for Europe and the Mediterranean. Headquarters: New York, USA.

Europe

• Resolution (grid): 8 km
• Depth (period): 3 days
• Step: 3 h
• Expected update: once time a day (every 24 h)

East Asea (Japan and South Korea)

• Resolution (grid): 3 km (1.8 mi)
• Depth (period): 1.5 days
• Step: 1 h
• Expected update: once a day (every 24 h)

Learn more about WR8 weather model in the Windy.app blog

OS (OpenSkiron) — Mediterranean

Open Skiron weather model, Athens weather in the Windy.app for iOS

OS (Open Skiron) is a regional Mediterranean weather model by the University of Athens. Headquarters: Athens, Greece.

• Resolution (grid): 12 km
• Depth (period): 5 days
• Step: 3 h
• Expected update: 1 time a day (every 24 h)

Learn more about Open Skiron weather model in the Windy.app blog

OpenWRF — Mediterranean

OpenWRF weather model, Barcelona weather in the Windy.app for iOS

The Open WRF (Open Weather Research and Forecasting) is a regional Mediterranean weather model by the University of Athens and a group of enthusiasts based on the WRF technology. Headquarters: Athens, Greece.

• Resolution (grid): 4 km
• Depth (period): 2 days
• Step: 1 h
• Expected update: 4 times a day (every 6 h)

Learn more about OpenWRF weather model in the Windy.app blog

AROME — France and the surrounding territories

AROME weather model, Paris weather in the Windy.app for iOS

AROME is a regional France and the surrounding territories weather model by the Meteo France (French National Meteorological Service). Headquarters: Paris, France.

• Resolution (grid): 1.25 km
• Depth (period): 1,7 days
• Step: 1 h
• Expected update: 4 time a day (every 6 h)

Learn more about AROME weather model in the Windy.app blog

Special global weather models

MFWAM (waves/swell)

MFWAM weather model, Maui, Hawaii, USA, weather in the Windy.app for iOS

MFWAM (Météo-France WAve Model) is a third generation numerical weather forecast model provided by the Météo-France, the French main national meteological service, with headquarters in Paris, France, which use it as the basis of its global wave system. From this model you can get swell forecast for surfing and other water sports and outdoor activities.

• Resolution (grid): 1/12 degree or roughtly 8 km (4.9 mi)
• Depth (period): 10 days (240 h)
• Step: 3 h
• Expected update: once a day (every 24 h)

Learn more about MFWAM weather model in the Windy.app blog

My Ocean (currents and sea temperature)

My Ocean weather model, Palermo, Sicily, Italy, weather in the Windy.app for iOS

The MyOcean weather model is the world's main model with currents, tides and sea temperature forecasts. These are typically updated once a day and cover oceans, seas and coastal areas but not rivers and lakes, even big ones. The model is part of the Copernicus Marine Service (CMS), which, in turn, is run by the Copernicus Programme, which is the European Union's Earth Observation Programme, looking at our planet and its environment for the ultimate benefit of all European and global citizens.

• Resolution (grid): 9.24 km (5.7 mi)
• Depth (period): 10 days
• Step: 1 h
• Expected update: once a day (every 24 hours)

Learn more about MyOcean weather model in the Windy.app blog

Get the list to all world's major weather models, including the ones, which are not used in the Windy.app such as UM (United Kingdom Met Office), CFS (Climate Forecast System), ALADIN (Aire Limitée Adaptation Dynamique Développement InterNational), and others.

Updated on July 28, 2022

Text: Windy.app team

Cover photo: Markusspiske / Unsplash

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