In focus

Car under fallen tree following storm

ECMWF synoptic-style weather charts – a set of tools to help forecast adverse weather

Updated in May 2021, ECMWF’s extratropical cyclone database products provide forecasters with familiar synoptic-style charts. They show fronts and low-pressure (cyclonic) weather systems that can be associated with hazardous conditions such as strong winds, snow and rain.
Earth system diagram

Fact sheet: Earth system modelling at ECMWF

ECMWF’s Earth system model aims to represent interactions between as many Earth system components as required, at the necessary level of complexity and as initialised by data assimilation, to achieve the Centre’s forecasting goals.
Person typing on laptop

How to get support from ECMWF

The ECMWF Support Portal provides a single point of entry for users to request support and find documentation.

Ocean waves

Fact sheet: Ocean wave forecasting

Marine weather forecasts can help to save lives and limit the damage caused by severe storms. This fact sheet explains how ocean waves are forecast at ECMWF, how observations are used and what forecast products are provided.
Composite image of Earth as seen by Metop-B satellite

Fact sheet: ECMWF’s use of satellite observations

Satellite observations make a crucial contribution to the quality of today’s weather forecasts. This fact sheet explains the types of satellite observations available and how ECMWF uses such data in its operational forecasting system and in research activities.

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COVID-19 (coronavirus) update

As the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, ECMWF staff, whether in Italy or in the United Kingdom, are now working remotely. The operation and delivery of our mission-critical activities are not affected. Staff will continue to be available via email. For updates on our events, please check the relevant pages on this website.
International Women's Day 2020

International Women’s Day 2020: Celebrating women in science

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2020, ECMWF asked a selection of experts and leaders in the world of meteorology to tell us their story.
ECMWF at AGU 2019 image

ECMWF at the AGU Fall Meeting 2019

ECMWF is contributing to the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in San Francisco, USA (9 to 13 December 2019) with presentations, exhibitions and posters. Find out where you can meet us during the AGU week.
Wildfire

World's first wildfire and river flow reanalyses to be updated in near-real time

Released in November 2019, the world’s first publicly available near-real-time river discharge and fire danger reanalyses provide data back to 1980.
Still from reconstruction of Ulysses storm over the UK in February 1903; credit: Philip Brohan

The role of ECMWF and the C3S in historical data rescue

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) activity to coordinate data rescue is an exciting and major step forward in improving the historical datasets that are so vital for assessing and managing the risks from climate change.

Ocean with clouds and sun

Improving ocean observations for better weather forecasts

A WMO workshop in February 2019, in which ECMWF participated, examined the requirements for ocean observations, which make a critical contribution to weather forecasts and warning systems.
ECMWF at AMS 2019 graphic

ECMWF at the 2019 AMS Annual Meeting

ECMWF will be at the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona from 6 to 10 January. Find out when our staff are presenting and when they will be available at our booth.
Global grid

ECMWF and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

ECMWF is one of 127 participating organisations which, together with 105 member nations and the European Union, form the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). Here we look at GEO’s important work and how ECMWF both benefits and contributes.
Corn harvest destroyed by drought

ECMWF extended-range forecasts and the European heatwave of summer 2018

The heatwave of summer 2018 highlighted the skill and value of our extended-range (sub-seasonal) forecasts. Forming part of ECMWF's seamless prediction system, the extended range falls between the medium- and long-range (seasonal) timescales. Forecasts on the extended-range timescale are scientifically challenging, but skill has been increasing steadily.

ECMWF Newsletter cover image montage

ECMWF Newsletter back issues available online

Back issues of the ECMWF Newsletter previously only published in paper form are now available in our eLibrary, along with all Newsletter feature articles published since spring 2005.
Forecast User Guide

User guide to ECMWF forecast products

A new edition of ECMWF’s user guide is now available online. The ECMWF Forecast User Guide helps forecasters and other meteorologists to make the best use of the forecast products from ECMWF.
Rainfall percentiles derived from ecPoint-Rainfall

Collaboration with Ecuador related to extreme rainfall and flood risk

ECMWF and Ecuador’s national hydro-meteorological service, the Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología (INAMHI), have signed a collaborative agreement for data exchange and verification of new post-processed rainfall products (“ecPoint-Rainfall”), with one long-term goal being flood impact mitigation.
ECMWF high-performance computing facility

Taking ECMWF computing capability forward

Since its creation, the Centre has owed its leading position to a combination of collaborative principles, top-level scientists and powerful HPC capacities. The opportunity has now arisen for a new Director of Computing to lead ECMWF’s computing efforts.
NOAA Gulfstream IV (G-4) aircraft

ECMWF supports atmospheric river reconnaissance flights

ECMWF is providing support for a field campaign over the eastern Pacific called ‘Atmospheric River Reconnaissance’. The campaign is led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes and will run until late February 2018.