Google Unveils WeatherNext 3, Beating Rivals With 5km Forecasts
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Sep 3
Google Unveils WeatherNext 3, Beating Rivals With 5km Forecasts
3 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Sep 3
Summary
WeatherNext 3 will start powering weather information in Google Search, Maps and Gemini after Google said the model ranked as the most accurate system on Operational WeatherBench.
5km resolution, hourly updates and 60% better rain evaluations than WeatherNext 2 mark Google's push to fix AI forecasting's main weaknesses in granularity, precipitation and update frequency.
2.4 times more parameters and direct use of hourly satellite observations helped drive those gains, while the model also targets specific weather stations for finer forecasts and clearer validation against ground data.
Google said the system outperformed AI models from Microsoft, Nvidia and ECMWF as well as traditional forecasts from the US National Weather Service and ECMWF, though rivals still dispute who first used raw observations directly.
AI weather models are already entering agency forecast products, and their lower cost and speed could widen access to accurate forecasting, with potential benefits for farming and renewable energy planning.