WeatherNext 3 adds live satellite data and hourly forecast refreshes

Google introduced WeatherNext 3 on 3 September, adding real-time satellite observations, hourly refreshes and higher-resolution predictions to its AI weather stack. The company also highlighted improved precipitation forecasting and variables useful for clean-energy planning. The model was integrated across Search, Gemini, Maps, Maps Platform and Cloud.

The key change is how a forecast responds to newly observed conditions, rather than only how quickly a model produces a prediction. Google cited external live evaluations alongside its own research claims. Local decisions still depend on the forecast horizon and location; one model-wide accuracy description cannot specify the weather at every street. Businesses using the data also need to distinguish a consumer weather display from a supported developer integration.