Europe's densest measurement network

Weather stations constitute the most important basis of our accurate weather forecasts. mminternational is the only private weather service provider operating its own private network in Central Europe in compliance with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) international standard. We also have measurement data from every national weather service and thus have access to over 17,000 weather stations worldwide.

All sensors and calculation methods we use are internationally recognised. The measurement instruments used are checked regularly for their accuracy. All the weather parameters are thus measured and recorded continuously at the station. The 10-minute mean and corresponding maximum and minimum are calculated for every measurement period.

mminternational constantly checks all measurement data for plausibility and stores it for further processing in weather forecasts and for archiving. mminternational's own measurement network is being continuously expanded across the world and has now grown to around 830 stations in Central Europe alone.

Our services

• 10-minute measurements
• Daily and hourly values
• Long-term expected values
• Standard and climatic years
• Data delivery via email or FTP server
• CSV or XML data formats

Your benefits at a glance

• Access to international measurement data from every national weather service and mminternational station
• Data acquisition in accordance with the official World Meteorological Organization (WMO) guidelines
• Immediately accessible data via our webshop
• High-quality and guaranteed complete weather data, checked by our energy meteorologists

Operate your own weather station! We will be happy to inform you in detail about our opportunities for cooperation.

10-day forecast

Weather forecast models are normally divided into two basic systems: numerical models, which calculate the atmosphere's dynamics and statistical forecast models. Numerical forecast models can easily hit the wall due to insufficient computer capacity when calculating local weather situations. Statistical Model Output Statistics (MOS) methods help make forecasts considerably more precise.

mminternational has therefore developed its own MOS system, which allows "point forecasting". It also determines the statistical correlation between the output of a "rough" weather forecast model and the weather station data. This allows precise forecasts for those stations with observation data. By combining global and local weather models measurements, we can accurately map local effects. mminternational's Research and Development department optimises this statistical forecast model continuously.

Our services

• Forecasts for up to 10 days in advance
• For all measured parameters
• Hourly resolution
• Hourly forecast updates
• Data delivery via email or FTP server
• CSV or XML data formats

Your benefits at a glance

• Optimised selection of the world's best weather models (ECMWF, UKMO, GFS etc.) according to the weather situation
• Leading forecast quality confirmed by the Swiss Federal Audit Office in 2008 and Öko-Test in 2010
• Premium MOS for your own weather station possible given a data basis of min. 18 months

Trend forecasts for up to 14 days

The atmosphere is a system with deterministically chaotic dynamics. This is why minor causes can have major effects. These can sometimes cause even greater uncertainties for future weather developments.

In contrast to the normal deterministic 10-day forecast, our 14-day trends take into account the uncertainties of the further weather developments. Possible developments in the weather situation are determined using the ensemble forecasting system. With our 14-day trends we enhance the results of the ECMWF ensemble calculations specifically for the selected weather station with the aid of our own statistical forecast model (Ensemble-MOS). Our 14-day trends thus provide a trend and probability forecast of the highest quality.

The median of our 14-day trends can be considered as a guide for further trends. In addition, the interval between the 0.1 and 0.9 quantiles indicates the reliability of the trend: the larger the bandwidth, the less reliable the trend forecast.

Our services

• Trend forecasts for up to 14 days in advance
• Median and security interval
• Hourly and daily resolution
• Temperature and other selected parameters

Your benefits at a glance

• Station-specific enhanced forecast (ensemble MOS)
• Trend forecasts including interpolation of forecast reliability
• Improved risk assessment
• User-friendly information display

Trend forecasts for up to 35 days

The more importance weather conditions gain as an economic influencing factor, the higher the demand becomes for up-to-date forecasts for long-term weather trends. Especially in the gas and power industry, this knowledge can mean enormous financial advantage.

Based on many years of atmosphere flow patterns coupled with classic calculations of ensemble predictions, mminternational has developed a 35-day trend. This trend is calculated per location for the air temperature and other selected weather station parameters. The additionally provided variation (quantiles) also makes sales-weighted predictions based on several weather stations possible, as well as targeted assessments of sales developments in extreme circumstances. The 35-day trend can be obtained in a daily or hourly resolution.

Our services

• 35-day trends
• Air temperature and other selected weather station parameters
• Statistical values: Median and quantiles
• Hourly data resolution
• Daily updates
• Data delivery via email or FTP server
• CSV or XML data formats
• Display in the energy services and trading portal

Your benefits at a glance

• Location-based or sales-weighted statements
• Hourly data resolution
• Regularly updated long-term expectation values
• Trend and risk assessment
• Clear graphic display of data
• Internal development

Wind power forecasts: knowing where the wind's blowing

meteoDSS' wind power forecasts meet the highest quality requirements. Our forecasts are based on an ideal combination of high-resolution short-term forecast models with a spatial resolution of up to 4 km x 4 km (UKMO-NA and UKMO-NX) as well as the world's best medium-term forecast models (UKMO and ECMWF). Our own statistical forecast model (meteoDSS MOS), which has successfully proved itself for years, ensures further forecast enhancement.

The meteoDSS wind power forecast incorporates not only weather data, but also the entire location database for all wind power systems. This means that start-up and shut-down speeds are automatically considered. Wind power is thus predicted for up to ten days in advance for every wind park and region or for the whole of Germany.

Our forecasting system is also able to take into account live yield data and thus further optimise forecasts with a high update frequency.

Our services

• Forecasts for the whole of Germany
• Available for the most popular network areas in Europe upon request
• Individual system forecasts
• Up to 10 days in advance
• 15-minute accuracy
• Up to hourly updates
• Data delivery via email or FTP server
• CSV or XML data formats
• Display in the energy services and trading portal

Your benefits at a glance

• Use of the entire location database
• Processing of characteristic power curves for all system types
• Provision for start-up and shut-down speeds
• High-resolution short-term forecast models
• The world's best medium-term forecast models
• Enhancement due to our own statistical forecast model
• Forecast enhancement based on historical yield data
• Integration of live yield data for short-term forecasts

Accurate solar power forecasts

In a fully developed forecast model, which was developed as part of a cooperation between meteocontrol and mminternational, highly precise meteorological data is combined with the yield data from the remote monitoring of PV systems. Data density of this kind is unique among solar power forecasts.

They benefit not only from global radiation measurements from national weather services and data from approximately 830 of mminternational's own weather stations in Central Europe, but also from meteocontrol PV systems, which have 6.5 GWp (Gigawatt peak) monitored power. The solar power forecasts are also enhanced by a statistical forecast model, the meteoDSS MOS.

Our services

• Forecast horizon of up to 96 hours
• Solar power forecasts for individual systems, supply areas, network control zones or country-wide
• Live projection of the available photovoltaic supply
• Display in the energy services and trading portal

Your benefits at a glance

• meteocontrol's system pool with more than 6.5 GWp
• One of the densest meteorological measurement networks worldwide thanks to mminternational
• Our own statistical forecast model (mminternational MOS)
• meteomedia's years of experience in solar power forecast modelling

Hydropower forecasts

The runoff forecasting system offers a perfect combination of meteorological and hydrological forecasting quality in combination with real-time data from mminternational's measurement network: it is the basis for the operational forecast system E-Watch, an innovative range of products in cooperation with DHI.

Based on the runoff forecast model we offer power plant and network operators, distributors and municipalities around the world the opportunity to benefit from the cooperation. Whether water temperature predictions, inflow forecasts for reservoirs and dams, hydropower, energy efficiency and water quality forecasts or warnings for critical water levels, with our forecasting systems we offer individual solutions to current issues.

Our services

• Inflow forecasts for reservoirs and dams
• Hydropower forecasts (energy efficiency) for individual plants or entire regions
• Water temperature forecasts
• Warnings via SMS, pager, fax and email
• Forecasts for all relevant catchment areas
• Up-to-the-hour accuracy
• Up to 10 days in advance
• Multiple daily updates
• Situation monitoring and display in customer-specific online portals

Your benefits at a glance

• Synergy of meteorological and hydrological expertise
• One of the densest meteorological measurement networks worldwide
• Leading forecast quality
• High-resolution runoff models

Meteorological hotline

meteoDSS is your consultant for weather and climate. Weather is becoming an increasingly important factor in the energy industry and other industrial sectors – in response, we now offer our Premium customers not only our standard product range but also individual meteorological consultation and a prognosis of ongoing weather developments.

One of our new services is the proactive meteorological hotline. Using our hotline, clients can personally receive information from our experienced meteorologists and be actively warned of weather conditions that are critical for their specific requirements. Daily support by phone, email and/or messenger can also be arranged. Our employees are amongst the world's best synoptic meteorologists and are award-winning: mminternational is a regularly winner in forecasting competitions, such as the Berlin Weather Forecasting Contest.

Our services

• Proactive hotline in the event of critical weather situations
• Assessment of further weather developments, including forecast reliability
• Consulting for the most complex meteorological issues
• Telephone trading hotline to our energy meteorologists
• Weather consulting for network operations and specific issues
• Support via telephone, email and messenger
• Weather reports and data for your industry-specific tasks

Your benefits at a glance

• Individual consulting and assessment of further developments for your issues
• Proactive warnings before changes in the weather and extreme events
• Safeguarding before (ad hoc) decisions on the trading floor
• Expertise of our experienced meteorologists throughout the year

Modelled time series

Reliable knowledge of the long-term climate conditions for a given location is crucial for risk assessment, site approval and climate analysis in the energy industry. Weather-dependent trends and fluctuations can be identified using long-term time series. With this knowledge at hand, the future can be planned effectively.

mminternational has developed a sophisticated statistical method for modelling historical time series based on re-analysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). This method makes it possible to create local time series for weather station locations. These have been re-calculated back to a minimum of 30 years (from 1979) and are available in hourly resolution and for various parameters.

As an added plus, particularly accurate long-term forecasts can be calculated on the basis of modelled historical time series, e.g. long-term expected values. This way, some initial meteorological approximations can be made for up to 365 days in advance.

Our services

• Internationally modelled historical time series (min. 30 years)
• Complete time series in hourly resolution for diverse parameters
• Highest quality in accordance with the international WMO (World Meteorological Organization) standard
• Yearly and time series updates
• Calculation of trends and long-term expectation values

Your benefits at a glance

• Accurate statistical statements
• Accurate evaluation of local meteorological conditions
• Combination with inventory data for detailed analyses
• Optimised risk management and location planning
• Planning security for the future

Nationwide climate zones for Germany

The meteoDSS climatic zones provide an overview of temperature developments for the whole of Germany. They are therefore an important tool for gas vendors operating throughout Germany.

A total of 11 climate zones have been defined for the whole of Germany on the basis of natural areas (areas with the same weather conditions). Representative weather stations were selected for each of these zones, taking into account average energy sales. Measurements and forecasts are calculated for a "virtual weather station" based on this data.

It is possible to compare weather forecasts and the long-term climatic mean for this virtual weather station. It is therefore possible to determine at a glance how many degrees the temperature deviates from the climatic values by historically and currently and will deviate from them by in the next ten days. Since the natural areas are assigned post codes, it is also possible to request localised deviation data.

Our services

• Sales-weighted measurements and forecasts for each climate zone
• Up to 10 days in advance
• Individual weighting using the virtual weather station
• Data delivery via email or FTP server
• CSV or XML data formats
• Display in the energy services and trading portal

Your benefits at a glance

• Quick overview of temperature developments for the whole of Germany, e.g. for gas vendors
• Climate deviations throughout Germany, both historically and currently as well as for forecasts
• Optimised selection of the world's best weather models (ECMWF, UKMO, GFS, etc.)

Energy services portal

With our innovative energy services portal we provide for our customers an online view of all energy-relevant meteoDSS products. The portal is designed to meet the highest standards in terms of flexibility and speed. Users have the ability to construct their own individual desktop.

With this portal you have a useful tool at your fingertips providing you with all relevant information for your day-to-day business.

Basic package

• Data deliveries to download and display
• 10-day forecasts
• Climate comparisons for Germany and Europe
• Model comparisons – displays of the most important weather models
• International weather station search
• Current severe weather warning situation

Premium services

• 15-day trends (ensemble analysis)
• Long-term trends (35-day trends and long-term expected values)
• Renewable energies (wind power and solar power forecasts)
• Extensive professional weather charts from the world's best forecast models
• Integration of products configured individually for you

Your benefits at a glance

• Flexible adaptation of your personal desktop
• User-friendly information display
• Risk and trend assessments for generation, trading and sales
• Personalised online access

Customer-Login

Products for energy trading

With our innovative meteoDSS trading portal we offer our customers an online view of all trading-relevant weather data. The portal is designed to meet the highest demands in flexibility and speed. As a result, analysts, gas and electricity traders as well as energy meteorologists have easy access to important meteorological information presented in a clear and comprehensive way for their day-to-day business.

Overview maps allow quick comparison of different weather models and show the variations in the model processes and ensemble results for individual grid points (towns) or weighted means (regions, countries). For a detailed analysis, weather charts from the leading weather models can be complemented with innovative comparison charts (deviation from the ERA-40 model climate, the trial run or other models).

Our services

• Country overview graphics (ECMWF, GFS and ensembles)
• High-speed weather charts (ECMWF, GFS, UKMO)
• Climate comparisons (high-precision and extensive display)
• Ensemble forecasts (forecast reliability)
• Comparison charts (weather models, forecast sequences, ERA-40 climate model)
• Monthly trends (meteoDSS 35-day trends, ECMWF, NCEP)
• Annual trends (ECMWF, NCEP)

Renewable energies

• Wind power forecasts
• Solar power forecasts
• Precipitation forecasts

Meteorological consulting

• Trading hotline to our energy meteorologists via telephone, messenger and email

Your benefits at a glance

• The world's best weather models (ECMWF, UKMO, GFS)
• Quickly accessible weather data
• Leading forecast quality
• Personalised desktop with flexible adaptation

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Energy FAQ

Questions on data

Are mminternational measurement stations WMO-compliant?

Yes, mminternational measurement stations comply with the official World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) criteria. Both the site and the devices comply with this standard.

The temperature is recorded, for example, at a height of 2 m above a grassy area and with enough distance from a possible construction site or trees.

How do you interpret measurement data and timestamps for hourly data?

The hourly data time series should be interpreted as having a final timestamp or as being right-justified.

The temperature is an instantaneous value that is usually calculated or forecast ten minutes before or exactly at the specified time (timestamp). The relative humidity is also an instantaneous value.

Global radiation, hours of sunshine and rainfall are cumulative hourly values and refer to the period leading up to the time.

The wind speed is an average over ten minutes and refers to the corresponding period before the full hour.

How do you interpret measurement data and timestamps for daily data?

The daily data time series should also be interpreted as having a final timestamp or as being right-justified.

The temperature and wind speed are daily averages and comprise the hourly data from 00 to 23 UTC on the respective day. Global radiation and the amount of precipitation are cumulative daily values from the "final-time-stamped" cumulative hourly values from 01 to 00 UTC.

Caution: It should be noted that in climatology, due to the previously (and at many climate stations still) conventional manual measurement of total cumulative hourly values from 07 (the previous day) to 06 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the cumulative daily precipitation value is usually attributed to the previous day. It is therefore necessary to distinguish between the "cumulative daily climatological precipitation value" and amount of precipitation for the hours from 01 to 00 UTC. The latter is used as standard in our data deliveries.

What is the procedure in the event of data failure at a measurement location? Are there replacement data strategies?

A substitute station data is defined is usually defined in the data delivery. The measurement data from the substitute station is used if the main station experiences a data failure. If there is also a data failure at the substitute station, data gaps are filled with up-to-date forecast data from the main station. This therefore guarantees complete measurement time series.

Due to its high forecast quality, the alternative to the substitute data process in the event of data failure at a measurement location is to fill the data gaps with data from the latest available MOS forecast.

Do mminternational's weather stations have unique station numbers? Are these internationally valid and is overlapping/confusion with other weather stations' weather services possible?

mminternational issues every available weather station in the various international, national and private measurement networks a 6-digit station number (station ID), thus guaranteeing (internal) unique database identification of weather stations.

mminternational uses/offers a 6-digit station number for unique identification

The basis for this is the 5-digit WMO station ID for the World Meteorological Organisation's official weather station list. The first two digits of the 5-digit WMO station ID usually identify the parent region, while only the last three digits are available for the unique identification of the weather station within the region - this is not sufficient given the large number of weather stations that mminternational is able to offer Central Europe in particular:

• Weather stations from various measurement networks can be uniquely identified within our 6-digit system
• Private, national and international weather stations (WMO-compliant, but without internationally valid WMO IDs) receive a 6-digit station number from us
• Our system adds a "0" to the end of the official 5-digit WMO station ID for national/international weather stations - they therefore also remain "obviously identifiable" using our 6-digit station ID
• Since there is no formally valid parent code for all weather stations irrespective of measurement network (e.g. WMO or Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW (German Federal Electricity Industry Association)) it is possible (for you as a customer) to externally exclude a possible overlap with another provider's individual station number system (for example, the Deutsche Wetterdienst - DWD (German Weather Service) uses 1-5-digit station IDs, while some measurement networks use alphanumeric station IDs)
• Station IDs that are individually assigned by other providers usually deviate from our 6-digit station numbers and have no "obvious similarity": for example, we give the DWD 3-digit station ID 222 a unique 6-digit station ID that usually no longer contains the number sequence 222
• In some cases, it is possible for another weather service's new weather station to receive an "official" 5-digit WMO station ID, which may lead to overlapping or confusion with our station number system - in this rare case, we may need to issue a weather station in our private measurement network a new 6-digit weather station number

Remarks on delivery formats:

Depending on the selected/desired delivery format, our data deliveries may also only contain 4- or 5-digit station IDs: in some delivery formats, the trailing "0" of our unique 6-digit station ID database will not be delivered. Similarly, the prefix "0" is not supplied or displayed in some formats and display programs (e.g. Excel). Despite these possibly only 4 - or 5-digit station IDs, the relevant mminternational weather stations remain uniquely identifiable in the various delivery formats.

Does mminternational also provide data from virtual weather stations? When are virtual weather stations defined and deployed/used?

mminternational also delivers data from virtual weather stations. Virtual weather stations are defined when forecasts for larger regions, such as the climatic zone of the "West German Lowlands", are created. Representative data and a forecast for the required region become possible by means of a sensible weighting of several weather stations.

Virtual stations are also defined if no suitable mapping can be performed by the nearest weather station. However, this only happens in rare cases, because mminternational has access to around 1,200 weather stations in Germany.

What are degree days? Are they calculated according to official guidelines?

Degree days are a measurement of buildings' heating requirements. By default, the degree-day figures are delivered in accordance with the G 685 standard recommended for the gas industry by the Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches - DVGW (German Association for Gas and Water). Degree-day figures are calculated (in accordance with the Association of German Engineers' VDI 2067 standard) for a maximum temperature of 15 °C and an average ambient temperature of 20 °C. No period is taken into account, so all days with an mean daily temperature of <15 ° C are incorporated to calculate the degree-day figure. The degree-day figure is the difference between the mean daily temperature and the mean ambient temperature.

The mean daily temperature required to calculate the degree-day figure usually comprises the 24 cumulative hourly values from 00 to 23 UTC of the calendar day observed.

Is there a plausibility check for historical and current measurement data?

Yes, plausibility checks are always carried out on the measurement data.

Prior to delivery, up-to-date measurement data is subject to an automated check as standard. In the event of data failure, data from a substitute station is used.

As well as being automatically checked, historical measurement time series are also manually checked by our meteorologists. Only in this way can be a complete time series of the highest data quality be guaranteed.

 

Questions on forecast data

How do you differentiate between forecasts? How far into the future can you forecast for?

It is necessary to differentiate between deterministic and probabilistic ensemble forecasts.

Deterministic (point) forecasts are calculated in hourly resolution up to 9.5 days into the future. Our Model Output Statistics (MOS) model is a statistical forecasting method that enhances the forecasts of various global and regional weather models with point accuracy for a weather station using suitable comparisons from the past.

Trends for 15 or even 35 days are possible using ensemble forecasts and similarity analysis. These are trend and probability forecasts. Despite our state-of-the-art measurement technology it is not possible to record up-to-date atmospheric conditions down to the last detail, but details can lead to different developments in the weather. When calculating ensemble predictions, these uncertainties are consciously taken into account by running numerous forecast calculations with slightly modulated initial conditions. The greater then number of calculations for the future that point in the same direction, the greater the likelihood a trend for the period under consideration.

What parameters can be forecast?

In principle it is possible to forecast any parameter that is measured at a weather station. This is usually at least the temperature. Other parameters, e.g. global radiation, hours of sunshine, wind speed, amount of precipitation, etc. must be checked individually.

The global radiation Meteosat can also be forecast for any station. This is a satellite remote sensing method using which mminternational can capture and predict global radiation for any point in Europe.

How high is the forecast quality of the weather data?

There is no blanket answer for this. It depends on the forecast parameters, the location and the current macro weather situation. However, a good series of measurements of at least 18 months constitutes the basis of our top-quality, station-specific, MOS-enhanced weather forecasts.

The following general rules apply: Temperature predictions are "easier" than precipitation forecasts; flat terrain is "easier" to forecast for than (high-) mountain regions and in extreme weather conditions such as thunderstorms, point and temporal accuracy is generally difficult due to the chaotic general weather system.

Is there a free choice of when the forecast data is delivered? Are forecast updates offered throughout the day?

Yes, there is a free choice of when the forecast data is delivered. The first forecast data delivery to the customer is usually in the early hours of the morning.

Further forecast updates are also available as our forecasts are updated every hour. As part of this, the latest measurement data and weather models are introduced as new input parameters at the respective delivery times. Adjustment to the actual status is therefore continuous.

How do you interpret the timestamp into the name of the forecast file?

In the past, forecasts were only calculated once a day at 00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) were thus also from the previous day. The timestamp was therefore automatically from the previous day.

Today, hourly forecast updates are available. However, as it is easier to map and compare the measurement data with the previous day's timestamp, the timestamp is still dated as the previous day.

 

Questions on data formats

What format can the data be delivered in?

We offer our customers different XML and CSV formats as standard. These can be easily imported from almost any IT system. We can also make individual adjustments to the data formats if required.

How is the data made available?

We offer our customers data provision via FTP server (data download) and email deliver as standard. It is also possible to access the files online in the customer area of our Energy Service portal. This contains the data deliveries for the last three months.

What is the temporal resolution of the weather data? For what time frame is the data available?

The weather data is always available for the temporal resolution in which it was created. Our weather stations' modern measurement and transmission technology means that we can offer series of measurements in 10-minute resolution.

Our customers usually access hourly or daily data. Furthermore, other data compressions are available in the form of monthly and yearly data.

What happens to the weather data when the clocks go forward/back in spring/autumn?

We deliver the weather data in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as standard. This is the official standard for compiling weather data.

The data can also be delivered in local time (Europe/Berlin), Central European Time (CET) or Central European Summer Time (CEST). In the case of local time deliveries with a change between CET and CEST it is important to note that when the clocks go forward/back in spring/autumn, 23 and 25 values are delivered respectively.

CET = UTC + 1 hour

CET = UTC + 2 hours

Are the different date changes included in the mean daily temperature?

In general, we deliver the normal calendar day, i.e. the mean daily temperature comprises the hourly data from 00 - 23 UTC. However, the defined gas day can also be considered. The data from 07 - 06 local time (Europe/Berlin, CET/CEST) is taken into account.

Is there any flexibility once I have ordered? Can I change the delivery at a later date?

At mminternational customer service and customer satisfaction have priority. It is of course possible to change deliveries (e.g. extension of the forecast horizon) at a later date. Flexible adaptation to your current weather data requirements is important to us and therefore possible at any time.

What the line breaks set within the files?

The standard line break is Unix (semicolon). We can also set the Windows line break (<Enter> key) for your file upon request.

What is mminternational's EDI number?

mminternational's EDI number is ZT2.

More information can be found on the Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft - BDEW (German Federal Electricity Industry Association)) website via the following link (only available in German): www.edi-energy.de/files2/Temperaturanbieter_1.0c_20111001.pdf

Are there EDI numbers for the weather stations or a universal code?

There are currently no official BDEW EDI numbers for the weather stations. Neither is there a general code for every available weather station. However, mminternational does offer a unique station number for all weather stations - see up Do mminternational's weather stations have unique station numbers?

We recommend using the mminternational station ID when obtaining weather information and forecasts from mminternational.