in Environment

Join us for a talk: The future of weather forecasting using AI

Friday 9th May

In the UK, we regularly experience four seasons in one day.  So it’s hardly surprising that we all love to complain about the weather – and the (in)accuracy of weather forecasts!

But do you know what goes on behind the scenes in weather forecasting and how medium range weather forecasts are generated?  With increasingly extreme weather patterns due to changes in our climate, join us for a talk by Dr. Florence Rabier, Director-General, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts for insights into this rapidly evolving predictive technology.

Where:  The National Archives, Bessant Drive, Kew

When: 6.30pm, Friday 9 May 2025

Tickets available on the door:  Members £5/non-members £10

Weather prediction is complex, with ever expanding data from satellites and surface sensors and sophisticated computer models based on the laws of physics. The last few decades have seen significant improvements in the ability to make accurate predictions. However AI has the potential to drastically improve weather forecasting, making it even more accurate and faster.

While traditional models can provide accurate forecasts, they rely on immense computational power which limits their use. AI’s ability to predict the future based on vast amounts of data at unprecedented speed is transforming the sector.

In her talk, Florence will describe the way traditional physics-based weather prediction works and how it can be combined with AI to move to next-generation forecasting.

She will tell the story of European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) based in Reading, from its beginning in 1975 to the current days, from working on the first CRAY-1 supercomputer in Europe in the late 1970s, to the implementation of the first fully operational AI weather model.

ECMWF, an intergovernmental organisation supported by 35 countries in the European area, works collaboratively with National Meteorological Agencies in its Member States, including the Met Office in the UK, providing cutting edge monitoring of the Earth system and weather forecasts from days to months ahead to its users.

Florence Rabier is the Director-General of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) which is based in Reading. She has been the Director General since January 2016, having led the organisation through a period of major change and expansion. Florence is an internationally recognised expert in Numerical Weather Prediction, who has greatly contributed to delivering major changes at both ECMWF and Météo-France.

Florence is French and moved here from Toulouse in 2013 to start her work at ECMWF. She is married and has three children. Florence was living in Kew until she recently moved to Teddington