Improved Alpine Forecasts with New ICON-CH Model on Ventusky

Ventusky has added a new weather model: the Swiss ICON-CH. For several years, we’ve been displaying data from the ICON models developed by the German Weather Service (DWD), including the high-resolution ICON-DE model. Now, these will be complemented by Swiss versions of the model, produced by Switzerland’s national meteorological institute (Meteoswiss). The ICON-CH model focuses on the Alpine region and will significantly enhance forecast accuracy in this important mountainous area, visited by millions of people every year.

The newly integrated ICON-CH model (specifically version 2) offers a resolution of 2 km and provides forecasts up to 120 hours ahead in 1-hour intervals. The model updates every 6 hours. On Ventusky, all essential weather layers are available from this model, including precipitation, temperature, cloud cover, wind, and snow depth.

By adding more Alpine-focused models, the overall quality of forecasts in this key region is further improved. Comparing data from multiple models is crucial for planning mountain trips and monitoring weather conditions. The ICON-CH model's high resolution allows it to distinguish individual Alpine valleys and accurately simulate local weather developments.