Available releases

Please note, we do not provide OpenIFS versions for each IFS operational cycle. IFS operational cycles are updated typically once or twice a year. OpenIFS versions are released less frequently and typically linked to significant scientific enhancements of IFS.

OpenIFS version numbering

OpenIFS version numbers are of the form: 4XrYvZ.

ECMWF and Meteo-France jointly develop the IFS model. A new cycle is formed when the two centres merge their code changes, and the cycle is labelled 'CYnRm' with n and m being sequential numerical identifiers, e.g. CY48R1. A model release is specific to ECMWF (the 'R' actually represents 'Reading,UK').

OpenIFS versions are named after their corresponding parent IFS cycle.  For example OpenIFS 48r1 is named after IFS CY48R1.

If multiple releases are created, originating from the same model cycle, then a clearer identification is made through the corresponding git tag in the model's repository.

The current latest release of the model has the git tag:  oifs48r1_20240105. 

Version numbering for older cycles OpenIFS 43r3 and earlier (discontinued)

In earlier releases of OpenIFS a version number was used of the form 4XrYvZ. For instance, e.g. '43' means OpenIFS is based on operational IFS model 'cycle' 43. 'r3' refers to the IFS model release 3 of cycle 43. The 'v1', 'v2', etc refers solely to OpenIFS and is the version of OpenIFS based on that IFS cycle and release.

ECMWF and Meteo-France jointly develop the IFS model. A new cycle is formed when the two centres merge their code changes. A model release is specific to ECMWF (the 'R' actually represents 'Reading,UK').

The version number is This version number was specific to OpenIFS. As these OpenIFS model versions have had a much longer lifetime than their respective IFS versions, OpenIFS is periodically updated with: the OpenIFS version provided updates with respect to technical changes for new compiler versions, new hardware, bugfixes from more recent IFS releases, new functionality and so on.

Changes to the version number will would not normally alter the model's results. Only changes to the cycle and release number will would significantly alter the scientific results from the model.

Cycle 48r1

OpenIFS 48r1 was released on 09 January 2024 and is based on IFS 48r1 which is the current ECMWF operational forecasting model since 27th June 2023. 

OpenIFS 48r1 is a significant scientific and technical upgrade from the previous OpenIFS 43r3v2 model release. This upgrade includes, for example, a moist physics upgrade, incorporation of multi-layer snow scheme, inclusion of operational CAMS chemistry and many more updates to the model physics parametrizations. Technical upgrades include a new build system (move from FCM to ecbuild/cmake), major restructure of the code, single and/or double precision builds as default, inclusion of the single column model (SCM) and ifs-test.

For a detailed description of this release please see: Implementation of IFS Cycle 48r1

Cycle 43r3

OpenIFS 43r3 was first released in August 2020 and is based on IFS 43r3 which was operational from July 2017 to June 2018. Users are encouraged to upgrade to this version as OpenIFS 40r1 is no longer being developed.The OpenIFS  The OpenIFS single column model 43r3 is available from the OpenIFS ftp site for download for licensed users. A release of the OpenIFS forecast model will be available later in 2019HTESSEL surface offline model at 43r3 is also available.

For a detailed description of this cycle, please see: IFS cycle 43r3 description. OpenIFS cycle 43r3 is no longer being developed. The final release was 43r3v2. 

Cycle 40r1

OpenIFS is based on IFS 40r1 which was operational from Nov 2013 to May 2015. The OpenIFS cycle 40r1 model and the single column model (SCM) at cycle 40r1 are were first released in February 2017 and were made available from the OpenIFS ftp site for download. The Offline Surface Model is was also available upon request to licensed users, contact openifs-support@ecmwf.int. 

For a detailed description of this cycle, please see: Cycle 40r1 description. OpenIFS cycle 40r1 is no longer being developed. The final release was 40r1v2.

Cycle 38r1

This is the first version of the OpenIFS models, released in 2012. The OpenIFS model is based on IFS cycle 38r1 but does not include the data assimilation nor the wave model. IFS CY38R1 was operational from June 2012 to June 2013.

For a detailed description of this cycle, please see: Cycle 38r1 description.

Licensed users can obtain the 38r1 models from the OpenIFS ftp site, please see OpenIFS User Guides for more details.