Google Unveils WeatherNext 3: A New Model for Rapidly Changing Rain Systems

Google has released its latest weather forecasting model, WeatherNext 3, which aims to improve rain forecasts and provide finer local detail. The model uses a combination of more frequent satellite observations and finer forecast grids to predict rapidly changing rain systems and local surface conditions.

The model produces hourly forecasts with several-hour publication delays, with the finest grid applying only to station-trained temperature and dew point. It also initializes new runs every UTC hour and provides hourly forecast steps for up to 15 days, but only delivers surface and station-trained fields for intermediate cycles.

Google has rolled out WeatherNext 3 into Search, Gemini, Maps, and the Maps Platform Weather API, starting on September 3, 2026. The company says that integration with its other services will continue to expand in the coming weeks and months.