- The European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has fully operationalized its AI Forecasting System (AIFS), achieving up to 20% greater accuracy than traditional methods, particularly in tropical cyclone tracking.
- AIFS uses machine learning trained on decades of weather data to generate faster, high-resolution (28 km) forecasts, predicting cyclone paths 12 hours earlier than conventional models—a critical advantage for disaster preparedness.
- ECMWF joins tech giants (Google, NVIDIA, Huawei) in AI weather modeling, while promoting open-source tools like Anemoi to foster global innovation and shared knowledge.
- Experts stress AI enhances but doesn’t replace human expertise, combining physics-based and data-driven approaches for more reliable forecasts. Future upgrades include ensemble forecasting and seasonal predictions.
- AIFS addresses escalating extreme weather threats, offering faster, more precise warnings to mitigate disasters. Its open availability ensures global meteorologists can leverage its outputs.
(Natural News)—In a landmark advancement for meteorology, the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has fully operationalized its Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS), marking a pivotal shift in how weather predictions are made. The AIFS, now running alongside ECMWF’s traditional physics-based model, has demonstrated superior accuracy — outperforming conventional methods by up to 20% in key areas like tropical cyclone tracking. This breakthrough, which was announced in late 2024, positions Europe at the forefront of a global race to harness AI for faster, more precise forecasts, potentially saving lives and livelihoods amid escalating temperature extremes. Yet, experts caution that AI is a complement, not a replacement, for human expertise.