NWP | ECMWF IFS 9km free

Main differences between the new and old versions

Main differences between the new and old versions are as follows:

Comparison Item Original 0.25° New 0.1°
Latitude/Longitude Grid Spacing 0.25° 0.1°
Number of Grid Points in the Same Area Used as baseline Approximately 6.25 times the original
Underlying IFS Forecast High-resolution forecast The same set of forecasts
Spatial Information Coarser grid Can retain more spatial details
File Organization Surface and pressure-level fields are merged Divided into -sfc and -pl files
Data Arrival Time Provided according to the original open data schedule About 2 hours later than the corresponding 0.25° data (9 km open data is released with a short delay of two hours (09:34UTC) rather than in real time (07:34UTC)
Access Choice Continues to be provided Provided in parallel with 0.25°

The 0.1° (high-resolution) data is published about 2 hours later than the 0.25° data. The 0.25° fields arrive at the end of the normal dissemination schedule; the finer 0.1° surface and pressure-level files follow roughly 2 hours afterwards, each with their own WIS2 notification. If your workflow expects both resolutions together, plan for this gap — the 0.1° data is not late, it is scheduled later.

9 km open data is released with a short delay of two hours (09:34UTC) rather than in real time (07:34UTC).

IFS 0.25 deg IFS 0.1 deg (~9km)

ECMWF open data: bits per value

  • https://confluence.ecmwf.int/spaces/DAC/pages/738041093/ECMWF+open+data+bits+per+value
    • What "bits per value" means
      • Every value, at every grid point, is stored in a fixed number of bits. More bits means finer steps between the values that can be represented — and larger files. Fewer bits means coarser steps and smaller files. The question is never "more or fewer" in the abstract; it is how fine each field actually needs to be.

ECMWF open data is packed to travel: the number of bits used to store each value is set per parameter, so files are smaller without losing the information people use. From 20 October 2026, every field is set by the precision it actually needs, rather than inherited from the production and archive settings. The same per-parameter packing applies to all open data — 0.25° and 0.1°, IFS and AIFS.

ECMWF open data: real-time forecasts from IFS and AIFS

Grib Files

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20261021000000-0h-oper-fc-sfc.grib2
edition      centre       date         dataType     gridType     typeOfLevel  level        stepRange    shortName    packingType  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   soilLayer    0            0            vsw          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   heightAboveGround  2            0            2t           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   entireAtmosphere  0            0            tcolr        grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   meanSea      0            0            msl          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            sp           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   soilLayer    1            0            vsw          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   heightAboveGround  2            0            2d           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   mostUnstableParcel  0            0            mucape       grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   soilLayer    2            0            sot          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            ssrd         grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   entireAtmosphere  0            0            tcw          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   soilLayer    2            0            vsw          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   heightAboveGround  100          0            100u         grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   soilLayer    1            0            sot          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   entireAtmosphere  0            0            tcwv         grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   soilLayer    3            0            vsw          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            lsm          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   heightAboveGround  10           0            gust         grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   soilLayer    0            0            sot          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   heightAboveGround  100          0            100v         grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   entireAtmosphere  0            0            tclw         grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            ro           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            skt          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            tp           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   entireAtmosphere  0            0            tciw         grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            strd         grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   soilLayer    3            0            sot          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   heightAboveGround  2            0-3          mx2t3        grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            ssr          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            sdsgso       grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            ptype        grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   heightAboveGround  2            0-3          mn2t3        grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            str          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            tprate       grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   nominalTop   0            0            ttr          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   entireAtmosphere  0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            rsn          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   heightAboveGround  10           0            10u          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   heightAboveGround  10           0            10v          grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            sd           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   surface      0            0            unknown      grid_ccsds  
54 of 54 messages in 20261021000000-0h-oper-fc-sfc.grib2

54 of 54 total messages in 1 files
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20261021000000-0h-oper-fc-pl.grib2
edition      centre       date         dataType     gridType     stepRange    typeOfLevel  level        shortName    packingType  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          z            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          gh           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          t            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         q            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         w            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         vo           grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         d            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  10           u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  850          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  100          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  925          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         r            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  150          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  400          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  600          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  200          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  300          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  500          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  700          v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           v            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  1000         u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  50           u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          u            grid_ccsds  
2            ecmf         20261021     fc           regular_ll   0            isobaricInhPa  250          v            grid_ccsds  
140 of 140 messages in 20261021000000-0h-oper-fc-pl.grib2

140 of 140 total messages in 1 files
NWP
#NWP #WRF #MPAS #GFS #FNL #ERA5 #IFS #CMA #BUFR
NWP | ECMWF IFS 9km free
https://waipangsze.github.io/2026/10/22/NWP-ECMWF-IFS-9km-free/
Author
wpsze
Posted on
October 22, 2026
Updated on
October 22, 2026
Licensed under