Weather Models
The weather depends on lots of different factors: wind speed, cloudiness, pressure, and others. All of them can be represented in meters per second, millimeters of mercury, and similar.
A mathematical weather model is a combination of all these factors. Windy.app features forecasts from different weather models.
Compare Mode allows you to compare data from all the models on one graph, including wind and precipitation forecasts separately.
A mathematical weather model is a combination of all these factors. Windy.app features forecasts from different weather models.
Compare Mode allows you to compare data from all the models on one graph, including wind and precipitation forecasts separately.
Weather models used in Windy.app
Global Models
Among global weather models, best at:
May underestimate local effects
Specs:
- Wind speed, temperature, precipitation forecasts
- Predicting when severe weather will arrive
May underestimate local effects
Specs:
- ~14 km resolution
- Updates every 12 hours
- Forecast up to 10 days
- Developed by the ECMWF
Among global weather models, best at:
Less details in rapidly changing conditions or complex landscapes
Specs:
- Forecasts over oceans and flat terrain
- Long-term forecasts
Less details in rapidly changing conditions or complex landscapes
Specs:
- ~27 km resolution
- Updates every 6 hours
- Forecast up to 10 days
- Developed by NOAA
Among global weather models, best at:
May over- or underestimate values on calm days
Specs:
- Forecasting coastal and mountainous effects
- Predicting extreme wind speed and temperatures
May over- or underestimate values on calm days
Specs:
- ~13 km resolution
- Updates every 12 hours
- Forecast up to 7.5 days
- Developed by DWD (German Weather Service)
Among global weather models, best at:
“Feels-like” coastal wind for watersports
Limitations:
May overestimate wind speed at calm conditions
Specs:
“Feels-like” coastal wind for watersports
Limitations:
May overestimate wind speed at calm conditions
Specs:
- ~27 km resolution
- Updates every 6 hours
- Forecast up to 10 days
- Developed by NOAA, adjusted by Windy.app team
Among global weather models, best at:
Channeling and coastal wind effects
Limitations:
Actively evolving model, refinements are still being made
Specs:
Channeling and coastal wind effects
Limitations:
Actively evolving model, refinements are still being made
Specs:
- ~3 km resolution
- Updates every 6 hours
- Forecast up to 10 days
- Developed by Windy.app team
Local Models for North America
Best for:
May add occasional wind patches over flat terrain
Specs:
- Showers, rain and lake-effect snow
- Squalls and other gusty winds
- Breezes, valley & mountain winds
May add occasional wind patches over flat terrain
Specs:
- 3 km (1.9 mi) resolution
- Updates hourly
- Forecast up to 36 hours
- Developed by NOAA
Best for:
- Stable weather days (no fast-changing storms)
- Open areas away from mountains and coasts
- May underestimate local effects (terrain, coastlines)
- Less reliable for showers
- 12 km (7.5 mi) resolution
- Updates every 12 hours
- Forecast up to 61 hours
- Developed by NOAA
Best for:
Less reliable for showers
Specs:
- Coastal and open-water winds
- Channeling winds
- Breezes, valley & mountain winds
Less reliable for showers
Specs:
- 2.5 km resolution
- Updates every 6 hours
- Forecast up to 48 hours
- Developed by Meteorological Service of Canada
Local Models for Europe
Best for:
May underestimate local winds (breezes, terrain effects)
Specs:
- Planning several days ahead
- Flat terrain away from coasts
- Areas without a better local model
May underestimate local winds (breezes, terrain effects)
Specs:
- 7 km resolution
- Updates every 6 hours
- Forecasts up to 5 days
- Developed by DWD (German Weather Service)
Best for:
For thunderstorms a few hours ahead, the exact location may shift
Specs:
- Breezes, valley & mountain winds
- Mistral and Atlantic fronts
- Showers and squalls
For thunderstorms a few hours ahead, the exact location may shift
Specs:
- 1.25 km resolution
- Updates 5 times per day
- Forecast up to 42 hours
- Developed by Meteo France
Best for:
May overestimate heavy rain intensity in storms
Specs:
- Mountainous areas (foehns and valley breezes)
- Coastal winds
- Rain and showers
May overestimate heavy rain intensity in storms
Specs:
- 2.2 km resolution
- Updates every 3 hours
- Forecast up to 27 hours
- Developed by DWD (German Weather Service)
Best for:
In quick-changing storms, timing and strength may be off at times
Specs:
- Coastal and open-water winds
- Rain forecasts
In quick-changing storms, timing and strength may be off at times
Specs:
- 2 km resolution
- Updates every 3 hours
- Forecast up to 54 hours
- Developed by Met Office
Best for:
May underestimate breezes and local winds
Specs:
- Open-water areas
- 3-5 days route planning
May underestimate breezes and local winds
Specs:
- 12 km resolution
- Updates every 3 hours
- Forecast up to 5 days
- Developed by National Observatory of Athens, Greece
Best for:
May be less reliable for local details in rapidly changing weather
Specs:
- Cross-checking wind forecasts
- Short-range wind details
May be less reliable for local details in rapidly changing weather
Specs:
- 4 km resolution
- Updates every 3 hours
- Forecast up to 2 days
- WRF-based community model
Local Model for Australia
Best for:
Only available for parts of Australia
Specs:
- Breezes and other coastal winds
- Cyclone timing and strength
- Showers and squalls
Only available for parts of Australia
Specs:
- 1.5 km resolution
- Updates every 6 hours
- Forecast up to 36 hours
- Developed by the Bureau of Meteorology