Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 16 June 2026 by the ScopePress weather desk. Data from national met services via Open-Meteo.
Check the GFS (Global Forecast System) charts for a medium-range outlook up to 16 days ahead, updated four times daily. These charts show pressure patterns, precipitation and temperature anomalies, giving a broad view of developing weather trends for the UK and Europe.
What do GFS charts show and how should you read them?
GFS charts display variables such as mean sea-level pressure, 500 hPa heights, 2-metre temperature anomalies and 6-hourly precipitation totals. The model divides the globe into a grid (roughly 13 km across for the operational run) and produces deterministic and ensemble outputs. For the UK, focus on the 0–168 hour range for best reliability; beyond that, ensemble spread often widens. GFS ensembles (multiple slightly different runs) indicate forecast confidence – tight clustering means higher certainty, while wide divergence suggests lower confidence.
Where to access GFS charts for the UK and Europe
Several providers host GFS charts tailored to the British Isles and continental Europe. Netweather GFS pages offer sector views covering the UK, Ireland and western Europe, with options to toggle precipitation, wind and thickness. ECMWF charts (the European Centre’s model) are more accurate for the short term but have restricted access; GFS remains the best free alternative for medium-range forecasting. For GFS charts UK-specific, look for sites that let you zoom into the British Isles at a 1° or 0.5° grid resolution.
Is the GFS model freely available to the public?
Yes, GFS output is open-access. Many websites provide free GFS charts, including tropicaltidbits.com and weather.us. For UK-focused charts, Netweather and Meteociel offer customised views.
How often are GFS charts updated?
The model runs four times daily at 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC. Each run takes about 3–4 hours to produce full output, so the 00 UTC chart is typically available online by 04–05 UTC.
What is the main difference between GFS and ECMWF charts?
ECMWF generally has higher resolution and better skill in the 3–7 day range, but access is subscription-based. GFS is free, runs longer (16 days) and is widely used for ensemble-based confidence checks.
Sources
For a broader outlook, see our UK weather hub or check the 10‑day forecast page. Regional pages such as Birmingham and Glasgow also include GFS‑based detail.