Weather forecasting is notoriously difficult, but in recent years experts have suggested that machine learning could better help sort the sunshine from the sleet. Google is the latest firm to get involved, and in a blog post<\/a> this week shared new research that it says enables \u201cnearly instantaneous\u201d weather forecasts. <\/p>\n The work is in the early stages and has yet to be integrated into any commercial systems, but early results look promising. In the non-peer-reviewed paper<\/a>, Google\u2019s researchers describe how they were able to generate accurate rainfall predictions up to six hours ahead of time at a 1km resolution from just \u201cminutes\u201d of calculation. <\/p>\n That\u2019s a big improvement over existing techniques, which can take hours to generate forecasts, although they do so over longer time periods and generate more complex data.<\/p>\n Speedy predictions, say the researchers, will be \u201can essential tool needed for effective adaptation to climate change, particularly for extreme weather.\u201d In a world increasingly dominated by unpredictable weather patterns, they say, short-term forecasts will be crucial for \u201ccrisis management, and the reduction of losses to life and property.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/19599987\/WeatherPatterns.gif\"\/)