What do GFS, NAM, ECMWF stand for?
GFS, NAM, ECMWF, WRF-GFS, MM5-NAM, RUC, etc. are all acronyms for the complex computer models that forecasters may use to aid them in preparing a weather forecast. The models are based on mathematical equations that describe and try to reproduce the physics that control how the atmosphere changes over time. These models are run by different organizations all over the world, frequently on powerful super-computers, and the data is shared with the various academic and meteorological organizations. Many of these models, including the ones run by the National Weather Service (NWS), are available to the general public via the internet.
