Find out how to get ECMWF real-time forecast data.
What do we mean by Real-Time forecast data?
Real-time forecast data, or 'valid' data, is all meteorological information in the form of pictures, charts, text or data files for which the verification time is in the future or less than 24 hours ago. This means that it can be used to predict the weather conditions.
Real-time data are also referred to as valid data.
Expired real-time data are any data with a verification time ‘more than 24 hours in the past’ (i.e. data which cannot be used to forecast).
Find out how to get Real-Time forecast data
ECMWF Free & Open Datasets for Real-Time forecast data and charts
Other Real-Time forecast data
You can browse Real-Time forecast data to see what is available, but remember that restrictions apply so you will need to order the data.
Technical set-up for delivery of real-time forecast data
Monitoring and changing delivery of real-time forecast data
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for the delivery of Real-Time forecast data. The services available to you depend on the service package you have.
Real-Time Data formats
Find out about data format and how to read your data files.
Kathy Maskell, last updated by Lauren Rootham on Sept 02, 2026
2 minute read