The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced its flagship weather model – the Global Forecast System (GFS) – has been significantly upgraded, allowing for improved forecasts of severe weather, winter storms, and tropical cyclone intensity and track. The new GFS brings together the superior dynamics of global climate modeling with day-to-day reliability and speed of operational numerical weather prediction. Additional enhancements to the science that produce rain and snow in the GFS also contribute to the improved forecasting capability of this upgrade. “We are excited about the advancements enabled by the new GFS dynamical core and its prospects for the future,” said Louis W. Uccellini, Ph.D., director of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Switching out the dynamical core will have significant impact on our ability to make more accurate 1-2 day forecasts and increase the level of accuracy for our 3-7 day forecasts.” Read the press release at NOAA.