Thought I'd share since many ask routinely.
Based on recent analysis and historical performance, the
ECMWF (Euro) is widely considered the highest-scoring and most accurate global weather model, maintaining a one-day accuracy advantage over its competitors, such as 6-day forecasts matching the 5-day accuracy of other models.
However, the "best" model depends on the specific region, time range, and weather phenomenon, with GFS, ICON, and GEM often outperforming the Euro in specific situations.
Here is a breakdown of how they compare:
- ECMWF (Euro): Generally considered the top performer for medium-range forecasts (3–10 days) due to its superior resolution and handling of atmospheric dynamics.
- GFS (American): Highly competitive, often faster to update (4 times daily), and sometimes superior for tropical cyclone tracking and severe weather in North America.
- ICON (German): Considered highly accurate, particularly in Europe, often rivaling or exceeding the ECMWF in short-range, regional, and specific temperature/wind forecasts.
- UKMET (UK): Similar accuracy to the ECMWF offshore and in the medium range, though sometimes slightly behind in land-based, short-term scenarios.
- GEM (Canadian): A strong "dark horse" model, frequently used for specialized, high-resolution regional forecasting, particularly in North America.
Summary of Performance:
- Overall Accuracy (Medium Range): Euro (ECMWF) > GFS > ICON/GEM/UKMET
- Short Range (0–48 hrs): ICON and HRRR (not in your list, but relevant) are very strong, along with Euro
- Hurricane/Tropical: GFS and Euro are generally considered top-tier, though AI models are currently challenging them
- Europe/Topography: Euro and ICON tend to excel