News

Image of EarthCARE satellite in orbit

EarthCARE instruments working together to evaluate atmospheric models

Launched in May 2024, the EarthCARE satellite’s unique combination of instruments – a radar, a lidar, an imager and a broadband radiometer – will improve the modelling of clouds, aerosols and precipitation in a number of different ways.
Stephanie Johnson

Developing ECMWF’s seasonal forecast system

ECMWF’s seasonal forecasts are based on our medium-range forecasts but extend to seven to thirteen months. Stephanie Johnson has a key role in developing and optimising the seasonal forecasting system.
AIFS operational

ECMWF’s AI forecasts become operational

ECMWF has taken the Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS) into operations today, 25 February 2025, to run side by side with its traditional physics-based Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) to advance numerical weather prediction.
Florence Rabier signing the SEWA agreement

ECMWF takes leading role in Space for Early Warning in Africa

ECMWF is contributing to the EU-funded Africa–EU Space Partnership Programme that started in January 2025 by taking a leading role in the four-year Space for Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) component.
Internatiomal Women and Girls in Science 2025 graphic showing neural network connecting 8 ECMWF staff

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025

To mark the United Nations' promotion of 'full and equal access and participation for women and girls in science', we invited some of our ECMWF colleagues to tell us more about their work. From improving weather forecasts to advancing climate research, their stories highlight the diverse contributions women make to science.
ECMWF Strategy 2025-2034

New 10-year ECMWF Strategy emphasises collaboration and machine learning

ECMWF’s new Strategy from 2025 to 2034 sets out anticipated progress in science, impact and organisation and people. It emphasises the need for collaboration and the future role of machine learning in weather prediction.
AI Weather Quest logo

Take part in the AI Weather Quest to advance sub-seasonal forecasting

ECMWF presents the AI Weather Quest, an innovative global competition aimed at advancing sub-seasonal weather forecasting through the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
ECMWF Newsletter 182

Winter 2024/25 Newsletter published

The winter 2024/25 issue of the ECMWF Newsletter is now available. As well as news about ECMWF staff and events, it features articles about new developments and the use that can be made of ECMWF products.
Excerpt of surface air temperature anomalies in 2024

2024 was the warmest year on record, Copernicus data show

The year 2024 was the warmest on record globally and the first calendar year that was more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) implemented by ECMWF.
Sunny sky above cloud level. Text: "ECMWF at AMS 2025, 105th Annual Meeting, 12-16 January, New Orleans and Online, American Meteorological Society."

ECMWF at the AMS Annual Meeting 2025

We are taking part in the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting from 12 to 16 January 2025 with presentations about ECMWF developments and plans and an exhibition booth.

News highlights 2024

News highlights of 2024

ECMWF news highlights in 2024 include a major upgrade of the forecasting system; initiatives to drive forward weather science, including machine learning; and news from the EU-funded services implemented by ECMWF.
Virginie Schwarz, Florian Pappenberger and Roland Potthast

The AI revolution: how European weather services are harnessing innovation

Representatives from three European meteorological institutions – Météo-France, the German National Meteorological Service (DWD), and ECMWF – discuss how artificial intelligence is impacting services and activities, highlighting the crucial role of collaboration.
Graphic for ECMWF at AGU24

ECMWF to present updates at Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union

At the Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU24), we present progress towards a global km-scale flood forecasting system, and we look at the mechanisms through which mesoscale convective systems can affect the large-scale circulation.
NWP SAF Workshop November 2024 graphic

Experts meet to discuss satellite observations of Earth system interfaces

From 19 to 22 November 2024, ECMWF hosted the NWP SAF Workshop on Satellite Observations of the Earth System Interfaces. The workshop continued the successful series of meetings organised at ECMWF on behalf of EUMETSAT’s Numerical Weather Prediction Satellite Applications Facility.
Three ECMWF Directors who participated in COP29

ECMWF Directors take part in UN Climate Change Conference

Three ECMWF Directors participated in person and remotely in the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, 11–22 November: Director-General Florence Rabier; the Director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, Laurence Rouil; and the Director for Destination Earth at ECMWF, Irina Sandu.
Robin Hogan

Accounting for solar and infrared radiation in ECMWF’s weather forecasts

Robin Hogan is responsible for the representation of solar and infrared radiation in the model used for ECMWF’s weather forecasts. He also co-chairs the mission advisory group for the EarthCARE satellite, which was launched in May this year.
IFS upgrade to Cycle 49r1

Forecast upgrade improves wind and temperature predictions

An upgrade of ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System to Cycle 49r1 implemented on 12 November has substantially improved near-surface wind and temperature predictions, particularly for the winter months in the northern hemisphere.
ECMWF's 50th anniversary image showing flags of participating nation states

ECMWF will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year

ECMWF will mark its 50th anniversary next year with three weeks of events taking place in our three duty stations in Bonn, Germany, 7–11 April; Bologna, Italy, 15–19 September; and Reading, UK, 1–5 December.
ECMWF Newsletter 181

Autumn 2024 Newsletter published

The autumn 2024 issue of the ECMWF Newsletter is now available. As well as news about ECMWF staff and events, it features articles about new developments and the use that can be made of ECMWF products.