Update times and delays

The essentials

The GFS forecast is computed four times a day, at 00Z, 06Z, 12Z and 18Z (UTC times, see The weather file). The computation takes time: the first forecast hours usually arrive about 3 h 40 after the run starts, then the rest of the file fills in over the following hours.

• Example: the 00Z run becomes available around 03:45 UTC, that is 04:45 in winter and 05:45 in summer in mainland France.
• Updating earlier gains nothing: the application cannot have a forecast the NOAA has not published yet.
• If the weather is late, there is nothing to do: the delay usually comes from the NOAA and clears by itself. VR uses the same files, so the application stays in step with the game.

Going further

Suggested times for routing. It is better to route once a complete forecast has arrived. The times suggested by the FAQ (Paris time) are, in winter, 05:15, 11:15, 17:15 and 23:15, and in summer 06:15, 12:15, 18:15 and 00:15. That corresponds to 04:15, 10:15, 16:15 and 22:15 UTC.

A forecast still incomplete. Just after a run arrives, only the first hours are up to date (for example “+90” means the first 90 hours are ready). The file in use then mixes several runs: this is normal and VR does the same (see How the wind is computed).

Checking that the application is up to date. The identifier at the top left of the timeline gives the date and time of the run in use. To force a check: “Settings” > “Display” > “Reload weather forecast”.

If the delay looks abnormal. The FAQ links to the NOAA pages that show the state of production and of file distribution. If everything is normal there and the weather still does not arrive, contact support from “Settings” > “Contact us”.