Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 16 June 2026 by the Morning Times weather desk. Data from national met services via Open-Meteo.
GFS charts show output from the Global Forecast System, an American weather model used worldwide. For UK forecasts, they provide a medium-range outlook up to 16 days ahead, with details on pressure, precipitation and temperature patterns across Europe and the Atlantic.
What information do GFS charts provide?
GFS charts display key weather variables such as mean sea-level pressure, 500 hPa heights, precipitation rate and surface temperature. They are updated four times daily and give a broad view of synoptic-scale patterns over the UK and Europe. Many forecasters use GFS ensembles — multiple runs of the model with slight variations — to assess confidence in the outlook. For a detailed UK-specific outlook, see our UK weather hub.
How do GFS charts compare with ECMWF charts?
The ECMWF model (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) is often regarded as more accurate, especially for the North Atlantic and Europe. GFS charts are freely available and updated more frequently, but have lower resolution. Some sites, such as Netweather, provide side-by-side comparisons of GFS and ECMWF charts, which helps forecasters choose the most reliable guidance. If you need a longer outlook, check the 10-day forecast for practical summaries.
How often are GFS charts updated?
GFS runs are issued every six hours. The 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC cycles each produce a deterministic run plus a set of GFS ensembles. Charts are usually available within a few hours of each cycle start.
What is the difference between GFS and ECMWF charts?
GFS charts come from a US model with coarser resolution but more frequent updates. ECMWF charts are higher resolution and generally more accurate for European weather, but are only available twice daily and often behind a subscription.
Where can I view GFS charts for the UK?
Many free websites show GFS charts for the UK and Europe — Netweather GFS is a popular option. For official UK guidance, the Met Office publishes its own model output alongside GFS-based products.