Global Producing Centres of Long-Range Forecasts

Global Producing Centres of Long-Range Forecasts

In 2006, the WMO began designating centres making global seasonal forecasts as WMO Global Producing Centres of Long-Range Forecasts. These form an integral part of the WMO Global Data-Processing and Forecasting System.

Through this designation process, Global Producing Centres of Long-Range Forecasts adhere to certain well-defined standards, aiding the consistency and usability of:

  • fixed forecast production cycles 
  • standard sets of forecast products 
  • WMO-defined verification standards (for retrospective forecasts)

A comprehensive set of standard verification measures has also been defined, and is known as the WMO Standard Verification System for Long-Range Forecasts.

At minimum, the following are required from the Global Producing Centres: 

  • Predictions for averages, accumulations, or frequencies over 1-month periods or longer (typically anomalies in 3-month-averaged quantities is the standard format for seasonal forecasts, and forecasts are usually expressed probabilistically)
  • Lead time: between 0 and 4 months 
  • Issue frequency: monthly or at least quarterly 
  • Delivery: graphical images on GPC-LRF website and/or digital data for download 
  • Variables: 2 meters temperature, precipitation, Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Mean Sea-Level Pressure (MSLP), 500hPa height, 850hPa temperature 
  • Long-term forecast skill assessments, using measures defined by the WMO Standard Verification System for Long-Range Forecasts