Real-time data can be delivered to users either directly by ECMWF or via the chosen Member or Co-operating State National Meteorological Service. This may or may not require a Service Agreement, please see Service Agreements and Uses Cases for more information.
For real-time data without delivery, please see Open data.
Technical considerations for delivery with ECMWF
ECMWF deliver real-time products via Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, S3 Compatible Third-Party Storage Systems and FTP/SFTP. Users will need to ensure the correct firewall settings are in place to allow connections from ECMWF.
Please visit the setup information for customers which has details about system requirements and information for users.
ECMWF operators monitor the transmission for all Bronze, Silver and Gold Service Package users and will notify a technical contact in the case of dissemination issues.
File naming convention & format
There are a number of file naming conventions which can be used in the dissemination of real-time data, please see our user documentation. File format of real-time data products from ECMWF is dependent on the variable/product and can be in GRIB1/GRIB2/BUFR format.
Please note we recommend and support ecCodes to manipulate ECMWF data.
More information about compression options in our user documentation.
Dissemination schedule
Products are disseminated according to a schedule unless you are a Silver or Gold Service user, for these users, the option of pre-schedule delivery is available.
Managing dissemination
Gold and Silver Service Package users have access to ECPDS and PREd which allows access to data configuration and self-management of dissemination.
For all other users please see: requests for changes and technical support