NOAA and Weather Forecasting

NOAA announced a new suite of AI‑driven global weather models that it says will deliver faster and more accurate forecasts for the National Weather Service while slashing computing costs, marking a major shift in U.S. forecasting operations. The Artificial Intelligence Global Forecast System (AIGFS), its ensemble counterpart AIGEFS and a Hybrid‑GEFS model reportedly cut computing needs by up to 99%, can extend useful forecast lead times by up to a day, and produce a 16‑day global forecast in about 40 minutes, though officials say work continues on improving hurricane and ensemble performance.