# ECMWF IFS The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) is one of the world's leading global numerical weather prediction models. ## Live Forecast Data * Global coverage at 9km resolution (2160x4320 grid) * Four daily runs (00, 06, 12, 18 UTC) * Extended prediction horizons up to 15 days * Real-time data access via [Python SDK](/python-sdk/weather/forecast.md) or [REST API](/api-v2/getting-started.md) ## Technical Specifications ### Available Weather Parameters IFS uses standardized variable naming conventions. For full details on the naming structure, see [Weather Variable Naming](/python-sdk/weather/naming.md). {% hint style="info" %} Wind speed at additional heights (20m, 40m, 60m, 80m, 120m, 140m, 160m, 180m, 200m) and air density at 2m are available from **March 1, 2026** onwards. {% endhint %} | Code | API Name | Description | Units | | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------- | ------------ | | 2t | air\_temperature\_at\_height\_level\_2m | Air temperature at 2m | Kelvin | | 2d | dew\_point\_temperature\_at\_height\_level\_2m | Dew point temperature at 2m | Kelvin | | 10si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_10m | Horizontal wind speed at 10m | m s⁻¹ | | 10wdir | wind\_direction\_at\_height\_level\_10m | Horizontal wind direction at 10m | Degrees true | | 100si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_100m | Horizontal wind speed at 100m | m s⁻¹ | | 100wdir | wind\_direction\_at\_height\_level\_100m | Horizontal wind direction at 100m | Degrees true | | 20si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_20m | Horizontal wind speed at 20m | m s⁻¹ | | 40si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_40m | Horizontal wind speed at 40m | m s⁻¹ | | 60si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_60m | Horizontal wind speed at 60m | m s⁻¹ | | 80si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_80m | Horizontal wind speed at 80m | m s⁻¹ | | 120si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_120m | Horizontal wind speed at 120m | m s⁻¹ | | 140si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_140m | Horizontal wind speed at 140m | m s⁻¹ | | 160si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_160m | Horizontal wind speed at 160m | m s⁻¹ | | 180si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_180m | Horizontal wind speed at 180m | m s⁻¹ | | 200si | wind\_speed\_at\_height\_level\_200m | Horizontal wind speed at 200m | m s⁻¹ | | 2rho | air\_density\_at\_height\_level\_2m | Air density at 2m | kg m⁻³ | | msl | air\_pressure\_at\_mean\_sea\_level | Mean Sea-level Pressure | Pa | | lcc | low\_type\_cloud\_area\_fraction | Low Cloud Cover | % | | mcc | medium\_type\_cloud\_area\_fraction | Medium Cloud Cover | % | | hcc | high\_type\_cloud\_area\_fraction | High Cloud Cover | % | | tp | precipitation\_amount\_sum\_1h | Total Precipitation | mm m⁻² | | ssrd | surface\_downwelling\_shortwave\_flux\_sum\_1h | Surface solar downward irradiance | J m⁻² | | fdir | surface\_direct\_downwelling\_shortwave\_flux\_sum\_1h | Direct solar radiation at the surface | J m⁻² | | z\_500 | geopotential\_at\_pressure\_level\_50000Pa | Geopotential | m² s⁻² | ## Hindcast Data **Data Access:** Hindcasts are available via [API](/api-v2/getting-started.md) or [SDK](/python-sdk/getting-started.md). For bulk, grid-based access, please contact . ### Current Hindcast Availability | **Model** | **Spatial Extent** | **Temporal Extent** | **Forecast Horizon and Resolution** | | --------- | ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | IFS HRES | Global, 9 km resolution (2160x4320 grid) | January 2022 - today at 00, 06, 12, 18 UTC |

00/12 UTC: 360h since 12-11-2024T06 before 240h; 06/18 UTC: 144h since 12-11-2024T06 before 90h
- From 1h to 90h: hourly
- From 90h to 144h: three-hourly
- From 144h to 360h: six-hourly

| ### Extended Hindcast Data (Special Request Only) {% hint style="warning" %} **Special Request Required**: The following extended hindcast data is available but requires special access permissions and is not accessible through standard API/SDK access. Contact to request access. {% endhint %} | **Model** | **Spatial Extent** | **Extended Temporal Coverage** | **Forecast Horizon and Resolution** | **Available Parameters** | | --------- | ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | IFS HRES | Global, 25 km resolution (1440x721 grid) | 2018-01-01 - 2023-12-31 at 00, 12 UTC | 240h, six-hourly | 10m wind, 100m wind, 2m temperature, surface solar radiation, precipitation | {% hint style="info" %} **Ad-hoc Request Only**: The extended historical data (2018-2023) is only available through special ad-hoc requests due to its large data volume and storage requirements. {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.jua.ai/models-and-products/third-party-models/ec-ifs.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.