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WeatherNext 3

WeatherNext 3 is Google DeepMind and Google Research’s global weather AI model for more localized, hourly forecasts. It is integrated into Google Search, Gemini, Maps, Google Maps Platform, and Cloud.

WeatherNext 3

What WeatherNext 3 is

WeatherNext 3 is Google DeepMind and Google Research’s flagship global weather AI model. The launch article describes it as their most advanced and accurate weather model to date, with WeatherNext 3 now integrated into Search, Gemini, Maps, Google Maps Platform, and Cloud.

The model is designed to improve forecasting for rapidly changing weather by using real-time satellite data, hourly refreshes, and higher spatial resolution. Google says this makes forecasts more localized and better suited to decisions that depend on rain, snow, temperature, wind, and other weather variables, including planning for agriculture, renewable energy, and day-to-day travel or activities.

Core capabilities

Real-time satellite inputs

WeatherNext 3 ingests live geostationary satellite mosaics and uses them as fresh input for forecast generation, rather than relying only on lagged simulation data.

Hourly forecast refreshes

The model produces a new forecast every hour, which is useful for fast-changing conditions and for keeping weather views current across products.

Multi-resolution weather fields

The article states that key surface variables such as temperature and moisture are available at 5-kilometer resolution, other surface variables at 10 kilometers, and atmospheric variables such as wind speed at 25 kilometers.

Higher resolution than the prior version

WeatherNext 3 is described as roughly five times sharper than WeatherNext 2, which used a 25-kilometer grid in 6-hour increments.

Clean energy-relevant outputs

The model includes predictions for clean energy variables, in addition to weather variables highlighted in the launch post.

Multiple forecast output types

The end-to-end system outputs dense gridded fields, discrete cyclone tracks, and station-level sparse coordinates natively, according to the article's figure caption.

Practical use cases

  • Daily planning

    Use WeatherNext 3 to check current and near-term weather before leaving home, especially when conditions can change within the hour.

  • Agriculture planning

    Teams working in agriculture can use more localized forecasts to make decisions around rain, temperature, and changing field conditions.

  • Renewable energy operations

    Renewable energy operators can use weather inputs and clean energy variables to support operational planning and forecasting.

  • Product integration

    Developers and teams using Google Cloud or Google Maps Platform can integrate weather forecasts into their own workflows and products.

  • Extreme weather analysis

    Meteorologists and researchers can use the model’s cyclone track outputs and higher-resolution fields to study severe weather behavior.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Uses live satellite observations instead of relying only on delayed simulation data.
  • Provides hourly refreshes, which helps with fast-changing weather conditions.
  • Offers higher spatial resolution than WeatherNext 2.
  • Is integrated across multiple Google surfaces, including Search, Gemini, Maps, Google Maps Platform, and Cloud.
  • Includes specialized outputs such as cyclone tracks and clean energy variables.

Cons

  • The source does not publish pricing, packaging, or usage limits.
  • The article gives clear examples of forecast outputs, but it does not document every supported workflow or product setting.
  • Some claims are specific to Google’s internal evaluations and launch context; the public page does not provide a full technical spec sheet.

FAQ

Who is WeatherNext 3 for?

WeatherNext 3 is intended for people who need more localized and more frequently updated weather forecasts, including users of Google Search, Gemini, Maps, Google Maps Platform, and Cloud.

What does WeatherNext 3 do differently from older weather models?

The launch article says WeatherNext 3 provides hourly forecasts using real-time satellite data, with higher spatial resolution for surface and atmospheric variables. It is designed to improve predictions for fast-changing weather.

Where can WeatherNext 3 be accessed?

According to the article, WeatherNext 3 is integrated into Google Search, Gemini, Maps, Google Maps Platform, and Cloud.

What kinds of weather outputs does WeatherNext 3 provide?

The article mentions WeatherNext 3 supporting better rain and snow predictions, along with clean energy variables. It does not provide a complete published list of every output variable.

Is WeatherNext 3 pricing or availability documented?

The source does not include pricing details. It says the model is integrated into Google products and Cloud, but does not explain commercial terms or access limits.

Quick Facts

Category
AI weather forecasting model
Brand
Google DeepMind / Google Research
Access surfaces
Search, Gemini, Maps, Google Maps Platform, Cloud
Update cadence
Hourly
Resolution
5 km surface variables; 10 km other surface variables; 25 km atmospheric variables
Source domain
blog.google

Альтернативы WeatherNext 3