Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Can Antarctic radar improve southern hemisphere weather forecasts?

Researchers found that incorporating Antarctic radar observations into weather forecasting systems improves forecasts of atmospheric circulation and atmospheric rivers over the Southern Hemisphere. The study used continuous wind observations from the PANSY radar to demonstrate the value of high-frequency measurements for weather foreca...

SourceResearch Organization of Information and Systems·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 28, 2026

AI D-Day weather forecast falters under pressure

Researchers used AI models to produce 50 different forecasts of the storm that pushed back the Allies' invasion of Normandy in June 1944. The model incorrectly predicted calm conditions on D-Day, contrary to Captain James Stagg's analysis, which had warned of poor conditions and a higher risk of dangerous winds.

SourceUniversity of Reading·JournalWeather·DateSep 8, 2026

AI’s eye on the tropics

A University of Miami-led study found that AI can provide valuable additional guidance for predicting tropical cyclone development in the Atlantic Ocean. The AI system offered higher probabilities of development at longer lead times and improved location forecasting, but its performance decreased at shorter lead times.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalWeather and Forecasting·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 1, 2026

Predicting hurricane rapid intensification further in advance

Researchers developed a method to predict which hurricanes are likely to intensify rapidly, providing local officials with crucial time to make lifesaving preparations. The new technique uses statistical analysis of past storms and sea surface temperatures to calculate the probability of rapid intensification.

As "Super El Niño" draws global attention, new study shows the Indian Ocean may hold the key to Mediterranean climate extremes

A new study reveals that temperature changes in the Indian Ocean can significantly influence winter weather thousands of kilometers away in the Eastern Mediterranean, offering new opportunities to predict damaging dry spells months before they occur. Positive phases of the Indian Ocean Dipole are linked to large-scale shifts in atmosph...

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalAtmospheric Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 13, 2026

Climate models are missing the first warning signs of deadly Middle East heatwaves, study finds

A new study reveals that climate models reproduce extreme heat but struggle to capture the gradual atmospheric buildup leading up to it. The researchers propose a process-based framework for evaluating climate models to improve prediction capabilities and enhance preparedness for extreme heat events.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalWeather and Climate Extremes·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 16, 2026

Researchers advance first-of-its-kind AI tool for translating life-saving weather warnings across the US

A new AI-powered translation program developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) translates weather forecasts into multiple languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Samoan, and French. The program aims to provide life-saving information to over 68 million US residents who do not speak English at home.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalArtificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 2, 2026

FSU researchers develop method to expand winter weather forecasting capabilities from weeks to months

Researchers at FSU have discovered a way to forecast winter weather patterns up to six months in advance by analyzing the stratospheric polar vortex. This new approach uses climate patterns like El Niño-Southern Oscillation to predict the vortex's behavior, allowing for more accurate forecasts of extreme weather events.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres·DateMay 15, 2026

AI falls short in predicting weather extremes

Researchers from UNIGE and KIT found that traditional numerical models remain more reliable for predicting extreme phenomena than AI-based forecasts. The study highlights the limitations of AI weather models in extrapolating beyond their training domain, making them less effective for record-breaking events.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScience Advances·TypeNews article·DateMay 4, 2026

Why does global numerical weather prediction model fail to accurately forecast 21.7 Zhengzhou extreme precipitation?

The study found that complex terrain, particularly orographic gravity wave drag, significantly affects the location and intensity of extreme precipitation. Without this effect, the low-level mesoscale vortex moves westward, leading to decreased rainfall intensity and a northwestward shift of the rainfall center.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 22, 2026

Fantastic fungi found with ability to freeze water

Researchers have identified fungal proteins that can catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures, making them a potential alternative to toxic silver iodide in cloud seeding. The discovery could lead to safer weather modification and improved food preservation techniques.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 17, 2026

Seeing the whole from a part: Revealing hidden turbulent structures from limited observations and equations

Researchers discovered that only observing the flow down to a specific scale is enough to reconstruct the full motion of fluid in two-dimensional turbulence, unlike three-dimensional systems. This finding has significant implications for modeling and prediction in atmospheric and ocean circulation.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalJournal of Fluid Mechanics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 9, 2026

New study identifies warning signs for extreme flash flooding

Researchers at Newcastle University and the UK Met Office identified a three-layered atmospheric structure associated with heavy rainfall developing within minutes. The findings help explain record-breaking rainfall and flash floods in the UAE and Oman in April 2024, and may aid future improvements in identifying risk.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalWeather and Climate Extremes·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 2, 2026

Cleaner ship fuel is reducing lightning in key shipping lanes, research finds

Research from the University of Kansas finds that cuts in sulfur emissions from oceangoing vessels have led to a reduction in lightning stroke density along heavily trafficked shipping routes in the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea. The drop in sulfates from ships can cause fewer cloud condensation nuclei, resulting in weaker convecti...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·Journalnpj Climate and Atmospheric Science·DateJan 20, 2026

Application of orthogonal CNOP-I in a convection-allowing ensemble prediction system based on CMA-MESO for improving extreme precipitation skill

Researchers improve extreme precipitation forecast accuracy using a novel CNOP-I scheme in a convection-allowing ensemble prediction system. The new method captures nonlinear evolution characteristics of weather systems, leading to more accurate predictions and reduced uncertainty.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateJan 14, 2026

Combining satellite and regional numerical weather prediction effectively enhances the ability to forecast solar radiation

Researchers Min Chen and Liangchen Guo developed a new system using Fengyun-4B satellite data and regional numerical forecast model RMAPS-ST to improve ultra-short-term solar irradiance forecasting. The system achieved significant reductions in forecast errors, particularly in warm seasons and short-term forecasts.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateDec 29, 2025

Improving snowfall forecasts in the Mountain West

Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a new model to predict the snow-to-liquid ratio, which varies widely in the Western United States. By training a random forest model on high-quality data from 14 mountain sites, they were able to explain nearly half of the variability in snow density compared to existing methods.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalWeather and Forecasting·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 21, 2025

AMS Science Preview: Railways and cyclones; pinned clouds; weather warnings in wartime

Researchers investigate how adjacent cities exacerbate each other's heat island effects. A study also highlights the need for improved hindcasting infrastructure in climate science. Additionally, a campaign monitors pinned clouds over industrial sources of heat and finds that trees are more reliable against heat stress than buildings.

SourceAmerican Meteorological Society·JournalJournal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology·DateNov 21, 2025

Purdue study uncovers why some hurricanes balloon in size and what that means for forecasting future storms

A new study by Purdue University researchers reveals that hurricanes grow in size faster when traveling over locally warm waters, which can help improve daily forecasting of hurricane size and impacts. This discovery has the potential to better model hurricane size in long-term risk models used by industry.

SourcePurdue University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 18, 2025

Moisture changes the rules of atmospheric traffic jams

New research from Purdue University reveals how moisture influences atmospheric blocking, a phenomenon that often drives heat waves, droughts, cold outbreaks and floods. The study introduces a new mechanism showing that moisture-induced diabatic heating strengthens ridge blocks but weakens dipole blocks.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 21, 2025

New AI tool tracks early signs of hurricane formation

A new AI system developed by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School can automatically identify and track tropical easterly waves, separating them from other tropical wind patterns. The model combines historical observations with reanalysis data to produce accurate real-time forecasts.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·JournalMonthly Weather Review·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 21, 2025

China Meteorological Administration improves tropical cyclone forecasting accuracy

The China Meteorological Administration has demonstrated significant improvements in both track and intensity prediction accuracy for tropical cyclones. The study finds that track forecast errors have reduced, particularly at longer lead times, while intensity forecasts have also shown advancements.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateAug 5, 2025

Do you want to freeze a cloud? Desert dust might help

Researchers at ETH Zurich found that mineral dust particles can trigger freezing of cloud droplets, particularly important in northern regions where clouds form below freezing temperatures. This process affects sunlight reflection and precipitation generation, with major implications for climate models.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 31, 2025