Listing of GRIB and other objective forecasts

Updated April 2022den

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A list of many GRIB and similar services, whether received by email, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) directly downloading to a PC or tablet or on a web browser. HH

GRIB sources

NWS (National Weather Service) Global Models

• GFS, US NOAA. (Global Forecast System.), the most used.
• NAVGEM, US Navy
• ARPEGE, France
• ICON, Germany.
• ECMWF, European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts
• UK UM, UK Unified model.
• GEM, Canada

Private sector Global Models

• Spire Global is Model for prediction across scales, a NCAR “Community” model intended for academic research purposes, on a 13 km grid,.
• Predictwind, PWG and PWE are a CSIRO model run starting with GFS and ECMWF data analyses degraded from 13 and 10 km respectively to a 50 Km grid.

• The ECMWF Chart catalogue has many of its products in chart form. Not a GRIB service but useful for a quick look.

Global grid lengths

Usually grid lengths are defined by degrees latitude/longitude but often quoted in km near equivalents ECMWF uses a grid of about 9km. UK UM usesa grid of 0.1° , latitude /longitude, about 10 km . Most other models use a grid spacing of 0.125°about 13 km.
Output may only be on a 0.25°grid although GRIB viewers often interpolate between model grids so giving a false impression of resolution.

NWS Detailed models

• NDFD. US National Digital Forecast Database, A source of High Res (2.5km) model run only for NOAA Areas of Responsibility.
• COAMPS. US Navy regional model, 9km resolution.
• UKV. UK UM run on a 1.5 km grid. Run hourly.
• ALADIN. A Météo France led R&D model
• AROME. A Météo France limited area model with 1.3km grid for France and 4km for Europe.
• HARMONIE. Developed by a group of European countries in association with AROME, 2.5km.
• ICON (EU). A DWD regional version of their global grid of about 7 km.
• ICON -D2 . A national scale, 2.5km, version of ICON.
• COSMO-EU Consortium for Small Models, Germany, Italy, Greece, Israel. Resolution 7km.
• HRRR . US High Resolution Rapid Refresh model. 3km grid, run hourly.
• NEMS NOAA Environmental Modelling System. Similar to the UK Unified Model. First used operationally for LAM use such as the North American Model – NAM or HRRR.
• MOLOCH/LAMMA an Italian detailed model.

Private sector detailed models

• WRF. US Weather Research and Forecast model.
• OpenSkiron. University of Athens model based on the WRF. 0.1 degree (~10 km) grid. Mediterranean only.
• OpenWRF. Provides WRF forecasts on a 4km and 12km grid, Mediterranan and E Atlantic.
• Predictwind runs a model of unknown provenance starting from their PWG and PWE 50 km global models.

NOTE

Limited area/meso-scale forecasts

National weather service limited area models start with detailed data analyses to produce detailed short period forecasts. This requires access to and the ability to process masses of data from space and terrestrial based observing systems. As far as I am aware, no other producer of Numerical Weather Prediction Model output (GRIBs) has the ability to do so. Although their models can handle topographic effects well their forecasts will suffer by lack of detailed meteorological data.

ECMWF

A service that does not fit easily into any of the above ia ECMWF Available on a browser, this shows many outputs from the centre. Many are not useful to sailors. Ten-day forecasts of surface weather and sea state, rainfall, cloud cover are useful for a good overall view. Tapping on didplays brings up ensemble data showing how much output can vary depending on initial dta analysis.

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