Abstract Accurate prediction of surface wind speed and temperature is crucial for many sectors. Physical schemes in numerical weather prediction (NWP) and data-driven correction approaches have limitations due to uncertainties in parameterization and lack of robustness, respectively. This study introduces a physics-informed data model, PhyCorNet, which combines a deep learning–based physics emulator (PhyNet) and a subsequent correction network (CorNet). PhyNet imitates the revised surface-layer parameterization scheme [default option of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model]. CorNet refines predictions by mitigating the difference between PhyNet and observations. PhyCorNet enables gridded forecasts despite the training data being point based. Therefore, PhyCorNet can be regarded as a rediagnostic scheme for surface wind speed at 10 m (WS10) and temperature at 2 m (T2). Compared to WRF, it reduced diagnostic root-mean-square errors in the 24-h forecasts for WS10 and T2 by 40% and 36%, respectively, across China, with unbiased forecasts at almost all sites. PhyCorNet addresses the oversmoothing prediction issue of other deep learning models by providing the ability to represent fine-scale features and perform well in statistically extreme samples. In grid cells without observations for training, PhyCorNet performed much better than WRF, demonstrating the zero-shot learning capability. This study implies that the emulator plus bias correction provided by PhyCorNet could be used as a simple but effective approach to improve the performance of other diagnostic quantities in NWP. Significance Statement We developed a new model called PhyCorNet to improve the surface wind speed and temperature forecasts. Existing weather forecast models have limitations in accurately predicting these variables. PhyCorNet first uses a neural network (PhyNet) to mimic an existing physics-based wind and temperature calculation method. Another neural network [correction network (CorNet)] improves the PhyNet forecasts by comparing them with observations. Across China, PhyCorNet reduced 24-h forecast errors for wind speed by 40% and temperature by 36% compared to a conventional model. It performed well under diverse conditions and overcame the oversmoothing issues faced by other machine learning models. Importantly, PhyCorNet outperformed traditional models in areas without historical observations. We suggest that this new framework can also be used to enhance the forecasts of other atmospheric variables.
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