WeatherNext: AI model achieves breakthrough in forecasting cyclones

WeatherNext 2: Our most advanced weather forecasting model

The new AI model delivers more efficient, more accurate and higher-resolution global weather predictions.

AIFS-TC: A simple correction competitive with the operational frontier for tropical cyclone intensity forecasting

arXiv:2608. 09959v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: AI weather models are in the process of revolutionising weather forecasting.

Introducing WeatherNext 3, our most advanced and accurate global weather AI model

How we're supporting better tropical cyclone prediction with AI

We’re launching Weather Lab, featuring our experimental cyclone predictions, and we’re partnering with the U. S.

WeatherNext 3: Increasing resolution and performance of global weather models with raw observations

WeatherNext 3 is a new AI‑driven global weather model that improves both spatial and temporal resolution by generating hourly forecasts at 0.1° resolution, matching the best physics‑based models. It incorporates low‑latency geostationary satellite data and learns to predict satellite‑derived precipitation, tropical cyclones, and station observations, enabling 2 m temperature and dewpoint predictions anywhere and anytime. By directly using raw observations instead of relying solely on analysis data, WeatherNext 3 sets a new state‑of‑the‑art for probabilistic medium‑range forecasting skill.

Resolving sources of uncertainty in AI weather forecasting

The paper introduces Pangu‑Bayes, a probabilistic forecasting hierarchy that separates atmospheric‑state uncertainty from learned‑model uncertainty as distinct stochastic variables, allowing cross‑flow perturbations of the evolving state with Bayesian parameter samples. In tests on 90 held‑out 2023 tropical cyclones, Pangu‑Bayes reduces track, pressure, and wind errors by 54.2%, 17.2%, and 24.9% respectively, and improves rapid‑intensification detection. The study finds that atmospheric‑state variability more consistently improves track prediction, while learned‑model variability more often enhances intensity prediction, demonstrating how model‑defined uncertainty resolution can be linked to target‑dependent value and dynamical interpretation.

Improving precipitation forecasts in an AI weather model using observational data

The paper presents a graph-transformer AI weather model that is fine‑tuned with high‑resolution IMERG precipitation observations, moving beyond the traditional reliance on the ERA5 reanalysis dataset. This approach yields up to a 19% improvement in medium‑range continuous ranked probability scores and a 57% better Brier skill score for extreme rainfall compared to leading operational models, while also excelling in tropical storm and drizzle prediction. The study demonstrates that directly incorporating observation‑based precipitation data into AI training can markedly enhance forecast accuracy, though physics‑based models still outperform for the heaviest events.

Tianmu-TC: Physics-constraints Generative Artificial Intelligence for Global Tropical Cyclone Forecasting

Tianmu-TC is a physics‑constraints generative AI framework designed for global tropical cyclone forecasting. Trained on Western North Pacific data, it produces controllable outputs with reduced uncertainty, outperforming both deterministic and ensemble meteorological AI models as well as the ECMWF NWP system across global ocean basins. The model also demonstrates strong performance in challenging scenarios such as data sparsity, anomaly tracks, rapid intensification, and weakening, while maintaining significantly lower computational cost.

Enhancing AI and Dynamical Subseasonal Forecasts with Probabilistic Bias Correction

arXiv:2604. 16238v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Decision-makers rely on weather forecasts to plant crops, manage wildfires, allocate water and energy, and prepare for weather extremes.

Advancing Subseasonal Forecasting with Machine Learning

The paper introduces Probabilistic Bias Correction (PBC), a machine learning framework that learns to correct historical probabilistic forecasts, thereby reducing systematic errors in subseasonal weather predictions. Applied to leading dynamical and AI models from ECMWF, PBC doubles the AI system’s modest subseasonal skill and improves the operationally-debiased dynamical model for most pressure, temperature, and precipitation targets. In ECMWF’s 2025 real‑time forecasting competition, PBC’s global forecasts ranked first across all weather variables and lead times, outperforming multiple operational and ensemble models.

Improving global precipitation forecasts with an AI weather model trained on satellite observations

The paper presents Laxmi, a retrained version of the AIFS weather model that uses satellite-based precipitation observations instead of ERA5 reanalysis data. Laxmi achieves a 19% improvement in global probabilistic accuracy, reduces drizzle overprediction by 33%, and boosts the 95th percentile Brier skill score by 57%. In a case study of 10 Indian tropical storms, Laxmi accurately forecasted 150 mm event-total precipitation in 7 events, outperforming both the original AIFS and the leading physical model IFS.

Too Rare to Learn: Prescribed Cyclone Tracks Degrade a Bay of Bengal Ocean Emulator

Neural ocean emulators that use prescribed cyclone tracks as input were tested in the Bay of Bengal. Two identical U‑Net models were compared: one with four cyclone‑track channels and one without. The storm‑conditioned model performed worse than persistence on every run, while the ocean‑only model outperformed persistence, indicating that the rare cyclone input caused the model to learn a misleading response.