Extension of Computer Model Forecasts to 15 Days and Addition of “Pangu” AI Model Products on the “Earth Weather” Webpage

The Observatory today (27 October 2023) enhanced the contents of the “Earth Weather” website by extending the forecast period of computer model weather forecasts from ten to fifteen days to let users appreciate potential changes in weather in advance. In addition, products including forecasts of winds, temperatures and mean sea-level pressure for the coming fifteen days based on “Huawei Cloud Pangu-Weather Model” (“Pangu model”), which is an artificial intelligence (AI) model for weather forecasting, are also added to the website. In recent years, there were rapid development in AI, machine learning and deep learning in various sectors, bringing significant improvements in the efficiency of analysing weather Big Data. Taking the opportunity of AI development, the Observatory introduced “Pangu model” mid-year this year and started running the model for weather forecasting on a trial basis by making use of AI and Big Data technology.

The address of the “Earth Weather” is https://maps.hko.gov.hk/wxviewer/index.html?lang=en. The new features will also be added on the “MyObservatory” app in upcoming updates.

Forecast for 1 October 2023 on mean sea level pressure (indicated by isobars) and wind speed (indicated by coloured layer) by the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model (left) and “Pangu model” (right) made on 22 September 2023. The former forecasted that a tropical cyclone would affect the northern part of the South China Sea, while the latter did not indicate development of low pressure systems in that region.