News

Passenger plane flying through clouds, Serjio74/iStock/Thinkstock

Drop in aircraft observations could have impact on weather forecasts

One aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a reduction in the aircraft-based observations available to weather prediction centres at the start of forecasts. At ECMWF, aircraft reports are second only to satellite data in their impact on forecasts.
World Meteorological Day 2020 poster

World Meteorological Day focuses on climate and water

This year, World Meteorological Day on 23 March and World Water Day share the theme of climate and water. In a message to mark the day, WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said the world faces challenges over floods, droughts and access to clean supplies.
WDQMS surface availability map example

WMO and ECMWF launch new web tool to monitor quality of observations

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and ECMWF launched a new web-based interface on 17 March 2020 to help monitor the availability and quality of global meteorological observations.
ERA5 Explorer temperature map

Data store opens window on past, present and projected climate

The EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) implemented by ECMWF has developed a Climate Data Store that lets anyone discover the world’s past, present and projected climate.
Passenger plane flying through clouds, Serjio74/iStock/Thinkstock

More and better aircraft weather observations are possible, experts say

Improvements in aircraft weather observation numbers, quality and metadata are possible if numerical weather prediction centres work with the WMO, EUMETNET and the aviation sector, according to experts who met at ECMWF in February.
Warm conveyor belt workshop 'virtual' graphic

Warm conveyor belt workshop 10–12 March to be virtual event

The warm conveyor belt workshop from 10 to 12 March 2020 will be virtual for external participants as part of measures to minimise potential exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Registration has been re-opened to enable more people to participate remotely.
ESoWC 2020 logo

ECMWF launches new weather- and climate-related coding challenges

ECMWF has published the challenges for its third Summer of Weather Code (ESoWC). Applicants have until 22 April 2020 to submit proposals for weather- and climate-related projects that address the challenges of handling large amounts of data and transforming it into information.
ARISTOTLE-ENHSP meeting participants at ECMWF February 2020

European multi-hazard service moves towards operations

Experts from four research and forecasting centres met at ECMWF on 4 and 5 February 2020 to drive forward the creation of a 24/7 European multi-hazard virtual advice service for natural disasters.

Graphic for satellite assimilation workshop February 2020

Experts chart way ahead for satellite cloud and precipitation assimilation

Eighty of the world’s top experts on using satellite cloud and precipitation observations in numerical weather prediction came together at ECMWF from 3 to 6 February to review progress and chart the way ahead.
Some new ocean and sea-ice variables in S2S database

New ocean and sea-ice variables added to 60-day forecast database

Nine new ocean and sea-ice variables have been added to a multi-model sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) weather prediction database hosted by ECMWF. The new variables will help researchers to explore the predictability of ocean and sea-ice conditions.
Marta Janisková and Mark Fielding

Tests show that cloud radar and lidar data improve weather forecasts

ECMWF scientists Marta Janisková and Mark Fielding have shown that using cloud radar and lidar data in global numerical weather prediction can improve forecasts. Their ground-breaking results will be presented during the NWP SAF/ECMWF/JCSDA satellite data assimilation workshop taking place at the Centre from 3 to 6 February.
Warm conveyor belt graphic

Getting a grip on warm conveyor belts in weather forecasting

Predicting warm conveyor belt ascending air flows in extratropical cyclones and their impacts on the weather remains a key challenge for forecasting. A workshop at ECMWF from 10 to 12 March 2020 will bring together a wide range of international experts to discuss the way forward.

UTCI heat stress plot for Europe in June 2019

ECMWF releases 40-year dataset on weather-induced thermal stress

ECMWF has released global data on weather-induced, outdoor thermal stress and discomfort in human beings covering the period from 1979 to today. The data have been calculated using weather information from ECMWF’s ERA5 reanalysis.
ECMWF Newsletter 162 cover

Winter 2019/20 Newsletter published

The winter 2019/20 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.
Adrian Gregory and Florence Rabier

ECMWF signs contract with Atos for new supercomputer

ECMWF has signed a four-year contract worth over 80 million euros with Atos for the supply of its BullSequana XH2000 supercomputer. ECMWF’s Council of Member States gave the Centre the green light for the deal during its session in December 2019.
Aeolus satellite wind profile path

ECMWF starts assimilating Aeolus wind data

ECMWF started assimilating wind data from the European Space Agency's ground-breaking Aeolus satellite operationally on 9 January 2020 after tests showed that they significantly improve weather forecasts.
Convective clouds

ECMWF scientists to simulate global weather at 1 km resolution

A group of ECMWF scientists have been awarded time on the world’s most powerful supercomputer to carry out ground-breaking global weather and climate simulations at 1 km resolution.
News highlights 2019

News highlights of 2019

ECMWF news highlights in 2019 include an upgrade of ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System that greatly improved forecasts; tests showing the substantial impact of ground-breaking new wind data; a series of events to drive forward numerical weather prediction; and the appointment of a new Director of Copernicus Services.
Graphic for ECMWF events 2020

A look ahead to ECMWF events in 2020

Registration is open for the 2020 Annual Seminar and a workshop on the forecasting challenges associated with warm conveyor belts. Other events in 2020 include the Using ECMWF’s Forecasts meeting (UEF) and our biennial workshop on high-performance computing in meteorology.