WILDLABS
World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Visit the website to view the full competition details.
The competition brings together participants from around the world to tackle one of meteorology’s most complex challenges: improving the accuracy and reliability of forecasts beyond traditional limits.
The AI Weather Quest serves as a unique platform to benchmark state-of-the-art AI/ML-based sub-seasonal predictions. It focuses on operational forecasting using real-time data, leverages open data for transparency and accessibility, and fosters equity between participants.
The competition welcomes both individual participants and teams of up to 10 members.
The Terms & Conditions define the official framework of the AI Weather Quest. While additional details are provided on this website, they remain the definitive reference for all aspects of the competition.
What is sub-seasonal forecasting?
The AI Weather Quest serves as a unique platform to benchmark state-of-the-art AI/ML-based sub-seasonal predictions. It focuses on operational forecasting using real-time data, leverages open data for transparency and accessibility, and fosters equity between participants.
The competition welcomes both individual participants and teams of up to 10 members.
The Terms & Conditions define the official framework of the AI Weather Quest. While additional details are provided on this website, they remain the definitive reference for all aspects of the competition.
What is expected from participants?
The AI Weather Quest unfolds in two phases:
- The Initial Training Phase, running from March to August 2025, provides a non-competitive environment where teams can refine their AI/ML models and familiarise themselves with the submission and evaluation process.
- From August 2025 to at least September 2026, the Competition Phase challenges teams to submit weekly, real-time sub-seasonal forecasts across four 13-week periods. Participants will be challenged to provide global forecasts at a 1.5 degree resolution, focusing on quintile probabilities for weekly-mean temperature, precipitation, and sea level pressure. Forecasts cover two specific periods: Days 19–25 and Days 26–32.
The AI Weather Quest is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing teams to join for any 13-week period of the Competition Phase and participate in as many periods as they choose. Throughout the Quest, participants have ongoing opportunities to refine and improve their models.
Why is ECMWF hosting the AI Weather Quest?
ECMWF, one of the world’s leading centres for numerical weather prediction, is renowned for producing high-quality forecasts up to seasonal timescales. By inviting global participation, ECMWF seeks to discover how AI/ML techniques can complement traditional forecasting methods and address the challenges of sub-seasonal prediction. Exploiting recent breakthroughs in the use of AI/ML for weather and climate is also part of the second phase of DestinE to enhance the capabilities of the digital twins. The competition will identify, benchmark, and integrate promising innovations into operational forecasting, driving progress to meet the growing demands of industries and communities worldwide. By leveraging open data and embracing diverse perspectives, it also seeks to foster new partnerships and share insights across the global community.
Get involved!
This competition is open to participants from international corporations, forecasting institutions, AI/ML experts, meteorologists, researchers, and students from diverse fields. No prior experience in weather forecasting is required—just a passion for solving real-world challenges with AI/ML, and access to your own computational resources for developing and training models.
The AI Weather Quest is committed to equity and inclusivity, striving to create a level playing field where participants from different backgrounds and skill sets can compete and collaborate.