UKMET Model Upgrades Coming

It’s safe to say the US is once again falling behind the times when it come to weather model guidance. Despite the GFS Model getting some much needed improvements soon, the UKMET model upgrades are going to blow the GFS out of the water.

And, this upgrade is a big one. Like a $156,000,000 price tag upgrade.

The United Kingdom MET Office bought a $156 Million super-computer, Cray XC4. According to an article by engadget, the super computer is quite the machine:

“With 480,000 CPUs, the 140 tonne (154 ton) machine will run about 13 times faster than its current IBM system. It’ll also let the Met provide updates every hour, three times more often than it can now.”

Model of the UKMET Model Supercomputer and Office - UK Met Office — Model of the UKMET Model Upgrades – UK Met Office

Essentially, this computer and upgrades to the model will be able to depict weather phenomenon on the town level, not something that is easily done, especially for a domain of this size. According to the MET Office, the model will be operational as early as 2015, but won’t reach it’s full potential until around 2017.