Google DeepMind released WeatherNext 3, a weather AI model that ingests live satellite data to generate hourly forecasts at 5-kilometer resolution—five times sharper than its predecessor. The model significantly improves precipitation prediction accuracy and brings high-resolution forecasting to underserved regions in Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.

• Generates hourly forecasts at 5km resolution for surface variables (temperature, moisture) instead of the previous 25km grid updated every 6 hours, with 60% better precipitation accuracy against satellite data
• Trains directly on real-time geostationary satellite observations rather than traditional physics-based numerical weather models, eliminating the 6-hour data lag that caused biases in fast-changing variables
• Includes specialized predictions for renewable energy (100-meter wind speeds for turbines, cloud cover and solar radiation) to help grid operators and clean energy developers match power generation with demand
• Now integrated into Google Search, Gemini, Google Maps, and Earth Engine, delivering up to 50% more accurate precipitation forecasts for 1+ day planning horizons