# GFS NOAA

The Global Forecast System (GFS) is a global numerical weather prediction model operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

## Live Forecast Data

* Global coverage at 25km resolution (720x1440 grid)
* Four daily runs (00, 06, 12, 18 UTC)
* Extended prediction horizons up to 16 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

GFS uses standardized variable naming conventions. For full details on the naming structure, see [Weather Variable Naming](/python-sdk/weather/naming.md).

| 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       |
| sp      | surface\_air\_pressure                                      | Surface Pressure                  | Pa           |
| msl     | air\_pressure\_at\_mean\_sea\_level                         | Mean Sea-level Pressure           | Pa           |
| z\_500  | geopotential\_at\_pressure\_level\_50000Pa                  | Geopotential                      | m² s⁻²       |
| skt     | surface\_temperature                                        | Surface Temperature               | 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 |
| lcc     | cloud\_area\_fraction\_at\_entire\_atmosphere\_low\_type    | Low Cloud Cover                   | %            |
| mcc     | cloud\_area\_fraction\_at\_entire\_atmosphere\_medium\_type | Medium Cloud Cover                | %            |
| hcc     | cloud\_area\_fraction\_at\_entire\_atmosphere\_high\_type   | High Cloud Cover                  | %            |
| ssrd    | surface\_downwelling\_shortwave\_flux\_sum\_1h              | Surface solar downward irradiance | J m⁻²        |
| tp      | precipitation\_amount\_sum\_1h                              | Total Precipitation               | mm m⁻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 <support@jua.ai>.

### Current Hindcast Availability

| **Model** | **Spatial Extent**                       | **Temporal Extent**                      | **Forecast Horizon and Resolution**                                                    |
| --------- | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| GFS       | Global, 25 km resolution (720x1440 grid) | 2023-10-01 - today at 00, 06, 12, 18 UTC | <p>384h forecast<br>- From 1h to 120h: hourly<br>- From 120h to 384h: three-hourly</p> |


---

# 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/gfs-noaa.md?ask=<question>
```

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.