Michael Sleigh
@msleigh.io
Head of Integrated Forecast Systems at ECMWF. Ex-physicist (previously Group Leader for Computational Physics at AWE). Interested in HPC, software, scientific computing, classical guitar, music
Introducing the IFS Assistant, a new AI tool to help users of ECMWF's Integrated Forecasting System (IFS). It is designed to help users find and understand information across the IFS codebase and documentation. Read more about the IFS Assistant ➡️ www.ecmwf.int/en/about/med...
ECMWF has released 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗸𝗶𝘁 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭.𝟬, marking a major milestone for its open-source Python software ecosystem, designed to simplify and accelerate weather and climate science workflows. More information ➡️ www.ecmwf.int/en/about/med...
Some more thoughts on looping in coding agents. lucumr.pocoo.org/2026/6/23/th...
The Coming Loop
Loops, harnesses, and why even loop skeptics may end up with them.
lucumr.pocoo.org
AI/ML weather models have brought reanalysis back to the spotlight, highlighting their importance as the “memory” of the Earth system and helping us understand both the present and the future. But what exactly is reanalysis? Find out in our Science Blog ➡️ www.ecmwf.int/en/about/med...
Reanalysis: shedding light on the past, present and future of weather and climate prediction
Reanalysis reconstructs Earth’s past by combining observations and models, underpinning climate science and AI weather forecasting, with ERA5 widely used today and ERA6 set to deliver improved capabil...
ecmwf.int
Can I just give a shout out to the @ethz.ch researchers who initialised an AI weather model with a cat picture. 👏🐱
I'm working on a column about the tech annoyances that drive us crazy, and I want it to be as universal as possible, so tell me yours! E.g. scanning a QR code to read a menu, never receiving the one-time passcode they supposedly texted you, "verify you're human" by IDing tiny motorcycles, etc.
Russia 'relentlessly targeting' critical infrastructure and democracy, GCHQ says www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Russia 'relentlessly targeting' critical infrastructure, democracy - GCHQ
The spy agency's head will set out threats facing the UK and the measures she believes need to be taken to confront them on Wednesday.
bbc.co.uk
A workshop we're running in November - and very much not just for the weather/climate crowd. If you work with large/complex scientific codebases anywhere (CFD, materials, plasma, astro...), and are thinking about software sustainability, please consider submitting an abstract. Deadline is 4 Sept.
ECMWF@ecmwf.int · 3mo ago📣 We are delighted to announce the keynote speakers for our workshop on software strategies for sustainable physical modelling: • David Simonin, Met Office • Yannick Tremolet, UCAR • Georgiana Mania, DKRZ • Philippe Marguinaud, Meteo France • Daan Degrauwe, RMI ➡️ events.ecmwf.int/event/529/
A workshop we're running in November - and very much not just for the weather/climate crowd. If you work with large/complex scientific codebases anywhere (CFD, materials, plasma, astro...), and are thinking about software sustainability, please consider submitting an abstract. Deadline is 4 Sept.
ECMWF@ecmwf.int · 3mo ago📣 We are delighted to announce the keynote speakers for our workshop on software strategies for sustainable physical modelling: • David Simonin, Met Office • Yannick Tremolet, UCAR • Georgiana Mania, DKRZ • Philippe Marguinaud, Meteo France • Daan Degrauwe, RMI ➡️ events.ecmwf.int/event/529/
📣 We are delighted to announce the keynote speakers for our workshop on software strategies for sustainable physical modelling: • David Simonin, Met Office • Yannick Tremolet, UCAR • Georgiana Mania, DKRZ • Philippe Marguinaud, Meteo France • Daan Degrauwe, RMI ➡️ events.ecmwf.int/event/529/
New post, featuring what I recently learnt about Git worktrees: masalmon.eu/2026/04/23/g...
Git worktrees are now cool · Maëlle's R Blog
masalmon.eu
“The definition of unmissable drama” (Radio Times) - Alan Bennett’s The Madness of George III with my dream cast incl. @elliotlevey.bsky.social Emma Fielding & Reece Shearsmith. What do you do when your leader has lost the plot? 3pm Sat 25 April @BBCRadio4 @BBCSounds www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Today, the Assisted Dying Bill will fall. The actions of a small group of unelected peers on this Bill have been deplorable. It’s a stain on our democracy and a slap in the face to hundreds of terminally ill people and their families, who were given hope when MPs voted in favour last year.
Shell Tricks That Actually Make Life Easier (And Save Your Sanity) #devopsish
Shell Tricks That Actually Make Life Easier (And Save Your Sanity)
Watch someone backspace 40 characters instead of pressing CTRL+W, and you’ll understand why this list exists. A collection of shell tricks-grouped by what works everywhere and what’s Bash/Zsh-speci...
blog.hofstede.it
I know this has circulated with alacrity recently, so you may have already seen it, but if you haven't... WOW BOY HOWDY it's the most useful thing. Thank you cardcatalogforlife.substack.com -- this is a very very very helpful public service: cardcatalogforlife.substack.com/p/google-has...
Google Has a Secret Reference Desk. Here's How to Use It.
40 Google features to find exactly what you need, the alternative search engines that do things Google won't, and the reference desk framework underneath all of it.
cardcatalogforlife.substack.com
This is absolutely brilliant. Instigated by Gordon Brown, delivered today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
World's longest coastal path opens in England to the public
The King Charles coastal path will allow walkers right of access to the entire coast for the first time.
bbc.co.uk
Parts of this path have been in place for many, many years of course. Used to walk the area all the time when I lived in London as it was perfect day trip territory. There are areas around Hastings and Folkestone that are just glorious. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
World's longest coastal path opens in England to the public
The King Charles coastal path will allow walkers right of access to the entire coast for the first time.
bbc.co.uk
'Welcome to Bedminster' Bristol, UK . 🎞️ Delta400 📷 BronicaETRSI 🧪 DDX 📜 Ilford Multigrade . #Photography #FilmPhotography #IlfordPhoto #NightPhotography #Monochrome #Darkroom #Bristol
In this golden age of surveillance, making E2EE chat normal and expected has been privacy's biggest win. I hate to see it getting rolled back. thehackernews.com/2026/03/meta...
Meta to Shut Down Instagram End-to-End Encrypted Chat Support Starting May 2026
Meta will end Instagram E2EE chats May 8, 2026, reversing a 2021 privacy test and reigniting debate over encrypted messaging oversight.
thehackernews.com
#RightToRoam - there is so little nature on these depleted islands, we need access to all of it www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Nearly three-quarters of England’s woods inaccessible to public, study finds
Exclusive: Campaigners call for government to introduce right-to-roam bill that allows people to walk around their local woodlands
theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
So long, hereditary peers – but the Lords is still full of absurd anachronisms | Polly Toynbee
Two-thirds of voters want an elected second chamber. The government needs a radical legacy: it should use its rare majority for this, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
theguardian.com
The most influential band of the last decade and a half doing what they do best. Live review of @sleafordmods.bsky.social in Bristol last week.
Live4ever Media@live4ever.uk · 5mo agoSleaford Mods live at Bristol Beacon: Gig Review www.live4ever.uk.com/sleaford-mod...
climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-c...
Copernicus Climate’s ERA6 reanalysis production starts
As the need for reliable and trustworthy climate information becomes more pressing, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has begun implementing the next generation of its rea...
climate.copernicus.eu
Wow, that's a monster signal for El Niño in today's new ECMWF seasonal forecast.
