WMO Support Dataset (formerly SOFF Dataset)

ECMWF has adopted an open data policy, with the objective of expanding free and equitable access to high‑quality numerical weather prediction data for the global meteorological community. This shift supports the socio‑economic benefits of weather and climate information and aligns with WMO policies on international data exchange and capacity development for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs).

Within this transition, ECMWF’s collaboration with the WMO‑led Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) allowed ECMWF to develop and test a proof of concept, and served as an important first step. Through SOFF, ECMWF supported selected WMO members in strengthening their forecasting capabilities by providing free access to a dedicated real‑time dataset. This dataset consists of a core set of parameters required to initialise limited‑area models such as WRF and ICON, delivered in real time at the highest available ECMWF resolution on a latitude–longitude grid. During the initial phase, access was granted to 61 SOFF beneficiary countries via dedicated regional datasets of ECMWF high-resolution IFS forecasts in real time.

Building on the experience gained through SOFF initiative, ECMWF is now extending access to this dataset to all WMO members, contributing to more equitable global access to essential forecasting data. The dataset will be available to all WMO members starting from June 2026.

As part of this evolution, the dataset formerly known as "SOFF Dataset" will be renamed to "WMO Support Dataset".

How to access the WMO Support dataset (formerly SOFF dataset)

Access to the dataset will be provided via FTP using your wmo_xx account. Please note: Your wmo_xx account already has a password, which is used to log in to ECMWF services (such as Jira) but this password does not automatically allow access to the WMO Support dataset.

If you want to request access to the WMO Support dataset, you can open a ticket in the ECMWF Jira system using your wmo_xx account (please specify “WMO Support dataset” in the ticket title). Once your request is processed, we will open the access to the WMO Support dataset for the region where your country belongs and we will communicate you the FTP password to use.
If you do not remember the main password for your ECMWF WMO account, use the WMO account update form, and we will assist you in restoring access.

Things to know about the the WMO Support dataset 

• The dataset can be accessed starting from June 2026,
• Access to the dataset is provided using your wmo_xx account credentials (we will provide you with the password),
• The dataset is provided via FTP,
• No additional software is required to download the data.
• Conditions of use: The dataset is provided free of charge. The access is strictly for Official Duty and must not be redistributed publicly. Sharing account credentials (including within other organisations or with consultants/partners outside your NMHS), including passwords, with individuals outside your organisation is not permitted.

The list of available regions and parameters and basic technical documentation and support can be found at this Confluence page WMO Support dataset.

Available regions

Details about the geographical area relevant to your NMHS, the list of parameters and the steps can be found at this link https://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/dataset/soff-dedicated-dataset.

For data delivery, each region is defined by a predefined latitude–longitude bounding box and users receive the subset of data corresponding to the region they belong to.