The World Area Forecast System 2023

The future of WAFS

Work is underway to determine the future of WAFS to make it ready for the next generation of aviation. With rapid advancement in data and technology, it is essential that development takes place to ensure the service continues to deliver meteorological information to the aviation community. These changes are largely driven by ICAO’s Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and the Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBU) ensuring that the developments are structured and align to agreed operational objectives.

As World Area Forecast Centres (WAFCs), the UK Met Office and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are working collaboratively to ensure that the next generation of WAFS data sets deliver accurate and improved meteorological data. As the aviation industry rapidly changes, these new and improved data sets will contribute towards limiting the environmental impact of air travel, cope with increased traffic and capacity demands and help air traffic management strategies to mitigate against and avoid hazardous weather conditions.      

Keep up-to-date

Between now and the end of the project, we want to keep you updated with developments about the new WAFS. As new information becomes available, this page will be updated with new documents which outline the aims and progress of the project. We also have our Aviation Services LinkedIn page where we post periodic updates about the WAFS upgrades and other service information. 

The following documents are currently available for you to download and view:

• WAFS 2023 - timeline
• Next generation WAFS flyer

Update July 2023

Work on the SADIS API's is ongoing, and we will make beta versions available to users as soon as possible.

SADIS API element	Beta available	Due to become operational
WAFS Gridded data	September 2023	November 2023
WAFS SIGWX data	December 2023	July 2024
OPMET data	August/September 2023	November/December 2023

Technical information will be shared as soon as it is available.

The upcoming changes to the SIGWX forecasts in July 2024 are documented in the SIGWX Flyer.

A new set of test IWXXM data is available HERE, and uses the recently updated schema that was part of the 2023-1 update (https://schemas.wmo.int/iwxxm/2023-1/)

Reminder: the 1.25 degree cumulonimbus, icing and turbulence data sets currently on the SADIS FTP will be retired in November 2023.

Update March 2023

The timelines for the introduction of the new SIGWX forecasts has been changed and it is now planned to introduce them in July 2024.  Text IWXXM data sets are available here and everyone is invited to try to visualise it.  The WAFS timeline document has also been updated.    

It is expected that the next generation SADIS system, the “SADIS API” will be available for users to try out in around May 2023.  Initially this will only contain some of the new WAFS gridded data sets.  When this is available SADIS users will be invited to get involved via SADIS administrative messages.

Update winter 2021

Test SIGWX data sets in IWXXM format

In November 2023 the WAFS SIGWX forecasts will be modernised and produced in a new IWXXM format.  We have published some test IWXXM data sets and would like to invite users to try to visualise it.  Please follow the link HERE to access the data sets.

Update winter 2020

The new icing, turbulence and cumulonimbus datasets at 0.25 degree horizontal resolution have now been released. These datasets will be available to users of the SADIS service. 

Turbulence datasets now in EDR

The new Turbulence datasets use the latest algorithms and will provide output in terms of Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR), an aircraft-independent measure of  turnbulence. EDR was developed by the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in the United States. This measure will enable forecasters and flight planners to more accurately anticipate where to expect turbulence that may impact on flight safety.  

Icing datasets now show icing severity

The icing dataset algorithms have been updated and now include a categorical assessment of icing severity.

IWXMM format OPMET data

On 5 November 2020 IWXMM format OPMET data becomes mandatory in ICAO Annex 3. This new dataset is also now available through SADIS service.  Find out more about what data is available via SADIS.

Find out more about the new datasets

• Learn more about the WAFS Hazard datasets.
• Understand how to use the new WAFS Hazard datasets in this training presentation.

This is the first stage in the move to providing all WAFS elements at 0.25 degree horizontal resolution, and future changes will also bring additional vertical levels, timesteps and a new delivery system. 

An example of the difference between 0.25 degree and 1.25 degree resolution for Turbulence.

Find out more

For more information about WAFS 2023 contact [email protected] or [email protected]