MTG-I2 Satellite Delivers First Weather Images
The second Meteosat Third Generation Imager captures Europe and northern Africa in rapid scan mode.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Current Conditions
The MTG-I2 weather satellite has delivered its first images, including a 45-hour animation covering Europe and northern Africa at 2.5-minute intervals. The animation shows fog over central Europe, deep convective clouds over the Mediterranean, and a smoke plume from a wildfire in central Portugal.
Why it matters
Rapid imaging at a 2.5-minute repeat cycle gives forecasters a much closer view of how weather systems develop. The projected gains include more accurate forecasts and earlier warnings of severe weather events.
The images come from satellite imagery captured by the second Imager on the Meteosat Third Generation mission, repeating every 2.5 minutes in rapid scan mode over a 45-hour animation period. The extraction does not give a baseline repeat rate for earlier satellites, and the operational timeline remains unstated.
The details
MTG-I2 flies in geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km from Earth, and follows the same point on the surface as the planet rotates. The animation starting 3 November 2026 captures fog and low clouds over central Europe, deep convective clouds over the Mediterranean, and clouds at different altitudes moving in opposite directions over the Atlantic.
Timeline
3 November 2026: Animation period begins, showing the wildfire smoke plume in central Portugal.
11 November 2026: First images are released publicly.
Seasonal Patterns
The MTG-I2 first images extend the Meteosat Third Generation programme by demonstrating rapid scan imaging of European and North African weather in early November. The animation captures the seasonal fog, convection and wildfire smoke that characterise this period across the region.
Residents across Europe and northern Africa can check official weather services for updated forecasts as higher-frequency satellite data becomes available. Anyone near active wildfires, such as the central Portugal fire visible in the imagery, should follow local emergency guidance.
The takeaway
Faster satellite imaging means weather systems can be tracked more closely, which gives forecasters and the public more time to prepare. Following official forecasts remains the most practical way to act on these updates.
Further reading
Track the latest Current Conditions updates as new satellite imagery comes in.
Source note: This article includes information reported by European Space Agency (ESA).
