Google DeepMind’s WeatherNext artificial intelligence model gave forecasters an extra day of reliable warning before Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025. It predicted five days ahead, with 80 per cent confidence, that the storm would make landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, helping communities and emergency planners prepare earlier for a catastrophic event.

Nature research finds WeatherNext’s cyclone forecasts are, on average, a day ahead of existing models: its three-day forecasts match the accuracy of earlier models’ two-day forecasts. The model was trained on broad weather data as well as limited cyclone records, allowing it to improve predictions of both storm tracks and intensity; this is significant because rapid intensification can quickly turn a manageable storm into a major emergency.