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Google’s latest AI weather model gives you no excuse to forget your umbrella
Scientists at Google Deepmind and Google Research released a new artificial intelligence model for weather forecasting today that sees our changing atmosphere more clearly and predicts its behavior more often.
WeatherNext 3 is the latest wave of a sea change in meteorology brought out by deep learning techniques, and Google says it will start feeding into weather information users see in search, Google Maps, and Gemini, as well as being available to users and researchers on Google’s cloud platforms.
“This is going to be the first time that some of the core variables feed and power a lot of the Google products,” Samier Merchant, a Google senior staff engineer, told TechCrunch.
The new model has already proven to be the most accurate among leading contenders tested on Operational WeatherBench, a utility for comparing AI forecasts built by the startup Brightband. It looks at metrics like temperature, windspeed, and humidity.
As well as beating out other deep-learning models built by Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, it also beats traditional forecasts from the US National Weather service and the ECMWF.
Most weather forecasts come from government-owned supercomputers laboriously churning through mathematical equations written to describe the physics of weather; while these systems have become remarkably accurate, they are expensive and comparatively slow. After the ECMWF released more than half a century of weather data produced by these systems in 2018, deep learning researchers began training models that could make predictions far more quickly and with comparable accuracy to government tools.
“Weather is chaotic, and so small differences really start to perturb massively…Machine learning targets the problem we are really solving, which is approximate noisy physics from incomplete information and finite compute, and so it learns patterns from a lot of data,” Ferran Alet, a staff research scientist manager at DeepMind.
Since then, model-makers have pushed on the key weaknesses of AI forecasting models: They tend to forecast over a wider area—15 to 25 square km—than is truly useful, they’re not always great with rain, and they still depend on the formatted data-sets produced by government agencies.
WeatherNext 3 takes on all three challenges. On key variables, researchers told TechCrunch, it can predict down to a resolution of 5km. Its evaluations on rain are 60% improved over WeatherNext 2, and it can now produce hourly forecasts, instead of the standard prediction every six hours.
Those improvements are the result of specific choices made by the designers. WeatherNext 3 is a larger model, with 2.4 times more parameters than its predecessor, and tailoring the targets for the decoder heads to give more useful answers. While most weather forecasts output as metrics averaged across a 3D grid, DeepMind researchers have already won plaudits by tuning their model to also visualize cyclone paths.
This time around, the designers also trained the model to target its forecasts to specific weather data stations. This is important not only for offering more granular predictions, but also for being able to evaluate its work against specific, ground-truth data.
“The idea, with a lot of AI applications, is to try to run tasks as end-to-end as possible,” Daniel Rothenberg, an atmospheric scientist at Brightband, said. “Adding a capability where this model is now also predicting, say, what Denver’s airport’s weather station is going to measure on an hourly basis, just connects that forecasting task closer to the core.”
The model is able to forecast more frequently because it can ingest weather satellite data collected in real-time on an hourly basis. Feeding AI models on raw empirical observations, rather than the analysis produced by weather supercomputers, promises a more accurate forecast, but it is still technically challenging to get models to work with unformatted data.
Google says WeatherNext 3 is the “first” AI model to directly incorporate raw observations for a high-resolution global forecast, but the AI weather startup WindBorne says its model, WeatherMesh 6, has been incorporating raw observations from its fleet of weather balloons and other sources since late 2025. Asked about that, Google pointed out that its forecasts are higher resolution across the globe. Regardless, both models still rely on national weather datasets to perform forecasts, so more work will be required for true direct data assimilation.
While LLMs get the bulk of the attention, the transformer revolution in meteorology has been just as important. European and US weather agencies are already using AI models in their forecast products, and their speed and low cost promise to bring economic impact to poorer regions where the expense of high-quality sensors and supercomputers has put accurate forecasts out of reach.
Bill Gates recently cited AI-powered weather forecasting as a crucial benefit of the technology, with better forecasts improving crop yields in developing countries. Alet, the DeepMind researcher, said that higher-resolution forecasts of wind, rain, and cloud cover will be useful to make renewable energy projects more dependable.
“At the end of the day, I think Google is about providing useful information to the user, and a lot of what users are looking for has to do with the weather in some way or another,” Alet said.
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The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has officially flagged off its state-by-state campaign in Jos, Plateau State, with party leaders pledging to prioritise security, peace, economic prosperity and improved living conditions for Nigerians.
The campaign, which brought together party leaders, supporters and members of the campaign organisation, highlighted the importance of Plateau State in Nigeria’s national development and called for renewed efforts to address the state’s security challenges.
The APM Presidential Candidate and Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, expressed gratitude to the people of Plateau State for their hospitality during the campaign visit.
Makinde highlighted the relationship between security and economic development, particularly the potential of tourism to create jobs and expand the state’s economy.
According to him, improving security would encourage more visitors to Plateau, boost tourism and create employment opportunities for the state’s growing youth population.
“Once we start having tourists coming in, our economy on the Plateau will expand. We will have jobs for our teeming youth,” he said.
The presidential candidate urged supporters to take the campaign’s message to their respective electoral units, stressing that elections are won at the grassroots level.
He encouraged Nigerians to embrace the party’s proposed reset agenda, which he said aims to build a country that works for everyone.
“If Nigeria is not working for you, then let us reset,” Makinde said.
He also accused the ruling party of adopting ideas similar to those contained in the APM’s reset agenda, challenging Nigerians to reflect on the country’s direction over the past three years.
Makinde called on supporters to join the movement in building a Nigeria that works for individuals, families and future generations.
In his welcome address, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, Deputy Director-General of Operations of the campaign organisation, described Plateau State as the heart of Nigeria, explaining why the state was chosen as the first destination for the party’s state-by-state campaign.
According to him, the wellbeing of Plateau State is closely connected to the wellbeing of the country.
“If Nigeria is sick, Plateau is sick. If Nigeria is well, Plateau will be well,” he said.
Dr. Aziegbemi acknowledged the difficult security situation in the state, noting that the campaign was an opportunity to communicate the party’s commitment to addressing the challenges facing Plateau residents.
He emphasised that the APM’s agenda places security among its major priorities, particularly in view of the displacement of communities, unemployment among young people and the growing economic difficulties facing residents.
“We know your pains. We feel your pains,” he said, assuring the people of Plateau that their security concerns would remain a priority.
He also criticised the economic policies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that many Nigerians continue to struggle to afford basic necessities despite the availability of food in the markets.
In his address before the flag-off, the National Chairman of the Allied People’s Movement, H.E. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, described the security situation in Plateau and Benue states as deeply concerning.
He called for an end to violence and emphasised that victims of insecurity should be regarded first and foremost as Nigerians, regardless of their religious or political affiliations.
“The people who die here daily do not die as Christians. They do not die as Muslims. They do not die as members of the APM, APC, or PDP. They die as Nigerians,” he said.
Dantalle stressed that neither Christianity nor Islam supports the unjust killing of human beings, urging Nigerians to reject religious intolerance and violence.
He also criticised the country’s economic situation, arguing that the earnings of many Nigerians are no longer sufficient to meet their basic needs.
According to him, the APM is presenting an alternative built on peace, harmony, economic prosperity and national unity.
“A vote for the APM is a vote for peace. It is a vote for harmony. It is a vote for economic prosperity,” he said.
He urged supporters to spread the party’s message in their communities and encouraged collective efforts towards building a Nigeria that works for everyone.
The party’s Vice-Presidential Candidate, Lawal Musa Daura, also addressed supporters, expressing appreciation for the people of Plateau State and calling for their support and understanding.
He recalled his previous visits to Plateau, describing the state as a place historically known for peace, tranquillity and tourism.
Daura expressed concern over the challenges facing the country and emphasised the need for collective efforts to restore peace and improve conditions for Nigerians.
The flag-off ceremony centred on the APM’s message of security, peace, economic recovery and national unity.
The party’s leaders urged Plateau residents and Nigerians across the country to support its proposed reset agenda, expressing confidence that improved security and economic opportunities could help address some of the country’s most pressing challenges.
The campaign’s first stop in Plateau State, according to the speakers, reflects the importance of the state to Nigeria’s overall stability and development.
As the APM begins its state-by-state campaign, its leadership has called on supporters to take the message of the movement to their communities and work towards what it describes as a Nigeria that works for everybody.
The event concluded with the presentation of the party’s flag to its Plateau State governorship candidate, symbolising the commencement of the campaign in the state.
The Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress,NDC, has inaugurated its State Campaign Council, as party leaders advised members to unite and intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the January 16, 2027, general elections.
The inauguration, which took place at the campaign office of the party in Owerri, attracted prominent national and state leaders of the party, political stakeholders, candidates and members appointed to various directorates of the campaign council.
Inaugurating the campaign council, the state chairman of the party, Reginald Uwakwe, expressed confidence in the party's leadership and its preparedness for the forthcoming elections.
He declared that the party has gained significant political inroads across the country, stressing the need to consolidate its growing support ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election and subsequent state elections.
Uwakwe commended the national leadership of the party for appointing Martin Agbaso as the State National Campaign Council Coordinator, describing him as an accomplished political leader with a strong understanding of the political realities in Nigeria and Imo State.
The NDC state chairman maintained that Agbaso's political experience, alongside the contributions of other seasoned leaders appointed to the campaign council, provides the party with the necessary leadership to achieve its electoral goals.
In his remarks, Agbaso expressed appreciation to party leaders and members for attending the inauguration and charged the newly inaugurated officers to move beyond formal appointments and commence immediate mobilisation across their respective areas of responsibility.
He emphasised that every card-carrying member of the NDC is automatically a member of the campaign council, noting that the party's collective responsibility was to secure victory at the polls.
Agbaso specifically directed the heads of the various directorates to extend their activities to the 27 LGAs of the state, work closely with party leaders and establish functional campaign structures across the wards.
The State National Campaign Council maintained that the party has a clear electoral objective to deliver its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, at the January 16, 2027, presidential election.
“We are here to win. Anything short of delivering our presidential candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi, and his running mate, His Excellency Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is not welcomed. We have serious work to do, and that work is to make ourselves proud come January 16, 2027. That is the victory of our party,” he declared.
Agbaso further appealed to party members to embrace humility, cooperation and collective responsibility, insisting that unity must remain the guiding principle of the campaign.
He stressed the need for members to be more united, noting that the party stands to benefit significantly from working together, urging members to put aside personal differences and prioritise the collective ambition of producing a new Nigeria under the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
Speaking on behalf of the campaign council, William Amanze Obi described the assignment as a serious political responsibility requiring discipline, strategic coordination and collective commitment.
He explained that they are ready to carry out the task given to them with every seriousness needed for a successful election victory.
“We shall all work together to win in all positions. Successful political victories are as serious as a coup. This is a task for a new Nigeria under Mr Peter Obi, and by the grace of God, we shall succeed,” he said.
The event was attended by the party's national and state candidates, political stakeholders and other members appointed to the various directorates of the State National Campaign Council.
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