News

Cover image of CAMS European air quality report 2025 with light yellow background and a circle covered in dots. Logos for the EU, Copernicus, CAMS and ECMWF at the bottom

Copernicus report shows continued air quality improvements across Europe

A new Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service report shows improving air quality across Europe driven by lower emissions, while highlighting how weather conditions can amplify pollution from transport, industry, heating and other sources.
Blue background with ECMWF logo on and white text that reads "event highlights june-july 2026"

ECMWF events bring global communities together

A series of major events brought together hundreds of users, experts and partners to exchange knowledge and shape future services.
Polar map centred on Antarctica showing geopotential height at 50 hPa during a stratospheric polar-vortex split event. Two dark purple vortex centres flank Antarctica, with tightly packed contour lines indicating strong gradients. Colours transition from pale orange to deep purple, highlighting the split structure of the Antarctic polar vortex.

Machine learning opens new opportunities for global reanalysis

A prototype machine-learning reanalysis trained directly on observations reconstructs more than four decades of atmospheric conditions, opening new possibilities for future reanalysis production.
Aerial view of a dry riverbed winding through an arid landscape in East Africa, with sparse vegetation and settlements lining both sides, highlighting severe drought conditions.

ECMWF opens Call for Proposals for SEWA regional pilots on impact-based forecasting in Africa

Regional pilot projects will help strengthen preparedness for hazardous weather and climate-related events across Africa.
A group of children with backpacks on walking on a dusty road in a warm country

ECMWF data used in landmark global study that tracks climate hazards facing children

ERA5 data contributes to new UNICEF report mapping children’s exposure to climate hazards worldwide, supporting more informed risk assessment and decision-making.
Graphic with a blue background, a colourful Earth, the earthkit logo and the text "earthkit 1.0 released"

ECMWF launches earthkit 1.0 for next-generation weather and climate workflows

With earthkit 1.0, ECMWF is making it easier for users to access, analyse and visualise weather and climate data, supporting better services and decision-making.
Irina Sandu photo

Irina Sandu takes up the role of Deputy Director-General and Director of Science and Innovation

Irina Sandu takes up a new leadership role, bringing more than 20 years of scientific and operational experience to help shape ECMWF’s future research and innovation.
blue backgound with Earth on and white text reading "Destination Earth Phase three". Logos for ECMWF, Destination earth, the EU, ESA and EUMETSAT are at the bottom

Destination Earth moves into its third phase

Destination Earth enters its third phase, evolving its digital twins and AI to deliver integrated, user-focused capabilities for understanding and preparing for climate change and extreme events.
Large group of people in white hard hats lined up in front of the new and under construction Reading ECMWF HQ building

ECMWF Council highlights progress on forecasting, resilience and future capability

The ECMWF Council discussed future priorities, including collaboration with Member States, advances in forecasting and AI, investments in computing, and progress towards a more connected European meteorological infrastructure.
Atos HPC system in Data Hall 1 of ECMWF's data centre.

Computing power is the backbone for sustaining world-leading weather forecasts

ECMWF highlights strategic importance of high-performance computing at the ISC High Performance conference.
Image of EarthCARE satellite in orbit

World first as ECMWF brings cloud radar data into its global forecasting system 

ECMWF becomes the first weather forecasting centre to assimilate cloud radar data, improving how clouds are represented in global forecasts.
Cover of ECMWF Annual Report 2025 with Earth image, data grid overlay, and ECMWF logo.

ECMWF Annual Report 2025 published

The ECMWF Annual Report 2025 highlights a year of significant achievements, including the operationalisation of the AIFS, the opening of the Real-time Catalogue, and ECMWF’s 50th anniversary.
Overhead photo from a drone showing flooding, buildings and people gathering in a group with boats

ECMWF joins global partnership to strengthen early warning systems

ECMWF joins the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) to strengthen early warning systems and anticipatory action.
Urban street scene during an intense heatwave, with bright sunlight, traffic, and heat haze rising from the road.

More people at risk from hazardous heat as global heat stress intensifies

New research shows how the frequency, severity, and duration of heat stress have accelerated and intensified across the globe since around 1970, affecting health and livelihoods.
Roar Skålin and Florian Pappenberger sat at a table both signing a paper while smiling at the camera

ECMWF expands Machine Learning Project (MLP) with new partners

ECMWF expands its Machine Learning Project, welcoming Latvia, Slovenia and Morocco and strengthening collaboration across national meteorological services to advance machine learning in weather forecasting.
Spring Newsletter 2026 cover

Spring 2026 Newsletter published 

The ECMWF spring Newsletter 2026 is available to read.
Headshots of Jørn Kristiansen and Irina Sandu

ECMWF appoints two Deputy Director-Generals to further enhance coordination across science, operations and digital infrastructure

The appointments strengthen ECMWF’s leadership at a time of rapid scientific and digital transformation, in response to increasing demands for integrated, end-to-end capabilities from Member and Co-operating States. The move reinforces the Centre’s ability to deliver world‑leading science and operational weather, environmental and climate services, for and with its Member and Co-operating States.

Small bits of sea ice floating in the ocean

New ORAS6 ocean reanalysis supporting forecasting and climate monitoring

ECMWF’s next-generation ocean and sea-ice reanalysis system improves the representation of sea-surface temperature, sea ice, and ocean circulation, supporting better forecasts, climate monitoring, and the upcoming ERA6 reanalysis.
Floodwater surges through a residential area, submerging a street and rushing past houses and trees.

SEWA scoping study explores pathways for impact-based early warning in Sub-Saharan Africa

A new SEWA scoping study explores how impact-based forecasting, regional collaboration and improved data access could strengthen early warning systems across Sub-Saharan Africa.