AI Weather Quest
AI Weather Quest
An ambitious international competition designed to harness artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in advancing weather forecasting.
The AI Weather Quest competition invites participants from all over the world to produce and submit sub-seasonal weather forecasts by harnessing artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) techniques. The aim of this ambitious competition is to enhance the accuracy and reliability of forecasts with the integration of cutting-edge AI/ML techniques.
Join the competition
The AI Weather Quest competition is open to AI developers, researchers, and students, as well as professionals from meteorology and related fields. No prior experience in weather forecasting is required, just access to computational resources and an interest in solving real-world challenges with AI/ML.
Competition Structure
The Quest is organised into two phases:
Initial Training Phase: (March–August 2025): Teams focus on building and refining their AI/ML models.
Competition Phase (August 2025–September 2026): Teams submit weekly, real-time sub-seasonal forecasts across four 13-week periods.
Please note that Participants can join at any time and compete in multiple seasons. ECMWF tracks performance and recognises top teams with awards.
Sub-seasonal forecasting
Sub-seasonal forecasting targets predictions for the 2 – 5 week range and addresses the gap between short- and medium-range weather forecasting (up to 15 days) and long-term seasonal outlooks (2 to 6 months). Focusing on sub-seasonal forecasting has the potential to improve preparedness for extreme weather events and support industries like agriculture, energy, and disaster management.
Use of AI/ML
With the rise of AI/ML technologies, the weather prediction landscape is undergoing a revolution. AI/Ml methods can analyse vast datasets to identify patterns and trends that conventional forecasting methods might miss. In the framework of the AI Weather Quest, participants have the opportunity to test these tools and assess their ability to improve prediction accuracy.
About
ECMWF organises the AI Weather Quest. ECMWFs contribution to the AI Weather Quest is supported with funding from the European Commission implemented by ECMWF under the Destination Earth Contribution Agreement.
As one of the world’s leading centres for numerical weather prediction, ECMWF seeks to discover how AI/ML can complement traditional forecasting methods and address the challenges of sub-seasonal prediction with the AI Weather Quest. Exploiting recent breakthroughs in the use of AI/ML learning for weather and climate is also part of the second phase of DestinE to enhance the capabilities of the digital twins.
The AI Weather Quest is implemented as an Integrated Processing and Prediction System (WIPPS) project of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Visit the AI Weather Quest website for more information.
Upcoming events
AI Weather Quest Launch Webinar
Monday, 17 March 2025
Learn more about the competition’s structure, resources, and rules and ask your questions live at the Quest Launch Webinar on 17 March. Please note this is the same webinar offered at two different times to accommodate participants across different time zones.