Global High-Resolution Atmospheric Forecasting System (GRAF)

Drive better decision-making with weather predictions that operate 6x faster and at 3x the resolution versus leading competitors.

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A global weather model system unlike any other

Weather is changing. We all feel it. No industry is untouched. Increasingly volatile, weather drives the decisions we make each day and has an economic impact in the billions each year. Having access to accurate and reliable weather information is increasingly important as the number and severity of extreme weather events climbs. The good news is–from media to advertising to aviation and our consumer products–every time you receive a forecast or weather intelligence from The Weather Company, it is informed by the GRAF model.

Far more accurate than traditional weather models

Proprietary to The Weather Company, GRAF is a physics-based, high precision, rapidly updating, global weather modeling system that can predict something as small as a thunderstorm virtually anywhere on the planet.

Historically, global weather forecast data has lacked accuracy, which makes it difficult to look to the past for future decision making and to access timely weather data on demand. These inaccuracies are due to models that update infrequently (~every 6-12 hours), can only provide forecast data at ~15 minute intervals, and operate at a resolution too wide to capture many weather phenomena (~10km).

The GRAF weather model uses high-resolution data and the latest in NVIDIA weather graphics to predict weather activity around the globe. GRAF is the first weather model to run on a GPU-accelerated supercomputer, which enables increased resolution and update frequency. GRAF incorporates extensive atmospheric observations. It employs machine-learning (AI) techniques to refine and optimize models.

GRAF in action

A look at India radar, before and after, with GRAF

Five key differentiators

1. Frequency

Best recency and only hourly updating model, versus the leading competitor, which updates every 6 hours.

2. Freshness

Best temporal resolution globally, producing 5 minute forecast data for the US and Europe and 15 minute forecast data globally, versus the leading regional models that provide 15 minute forecast data only.

3. Fidelity

Leading spatial resolution, operating at a 3.5km resolution for North America and Europe vs. the leading competitor at a 10km resolution.

4. Fast

First operational global weather model to run on a GPU-accelerated supercomputer, enabling rapid assimilation of weather data inputs.

5. Fortified

GRAF is a modeling system, not a singular model. The combination of the best of the best inputs enables it to be superior to any singular model alone (including those created by AI).

A closer look at GRAF

Fueling the most accurate weather data forecast for all people, everywhere.

Driving better decisions

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Aviation

An international aviation company can receive turbulence data more frequently and precisely to ensure its passengers have a smooth take-off and landing.

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Media

A broadcaster can present more accurate weather graphics of localized storm activity to keep its viewers in the know.

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Government

A government disaster management department can better prepare for severe weather to save lives and maximize relief resources.

Utilities

An off-shore energy and utility company can receive warnings of quick-forming, localized weather activity—such as thunderstorms—and be able to optimize operations and keep workers safe quickly.

Farming

A farmer in India can have a better sense of when rainfall is likely to occur and can make a more informed decision about using expensive fertilizer or pesticides, which could be washed away if there is heavy rainfall.

GRAF keeps getting better

We won’t stop at being the world’s most accurate forecaster¹. Our team of over 100 meteorologists is continuously working to improve GRAF, collaborating with organizations like the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the American Meteorological Society to enhance the modeling system.

Looking ahead, we plan to increase our high computing capacity by 3x, improve 72-hour weather forecasting frequency, and implement JEDI Data Assimilation, which will enable the incorporation of additional, previously untapped data sets (such as satellite radiances, aircraft observations, radiosondes, and pressure sensor readings from smartphone users with consent) to contribute to even greater accuracy and granularity across time and space.

Let’s talk

To learn more about harnessing the power of weather to make better, more informed decisions across industries, contact our experts today.

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_{¹ ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview, 2017-2022, commissioned by The Weather Company}