Weather stations

These stations play a crucial role in monitoring and forecasting weather by measuring a wide range of meteorological parameters, including air temperature, atmospheric pressure, rainfall, wind speed and direction, humidity, cloud height, and visibility.

Weather stations - hourly observations

Placement and standards

Weather stations are found throughout the UK, typically spaced about 40 km apart, allowing for effective tracking of weather systems such as low pressure and frontal movements. Their locations are carefully chosen to ensure that measurements are representative of the wider area and not unduly influenced by local factors. For instance, stations are often found in open spaces like airports, but equipment is placed at internationally agreed distances from runways to avoid interference.

Consistency is vital for both short-term forecasts and long-term climate records. To maintain this, weather stations must adhere to strict criteria set by international meteorological organisations. These standards cover aspects such as grass cover and the need for clear space, ensuring that readings are not affected by buildings, trees, or other non-meteorological influences.

UK weather station locations

Ideal and undesirable sites

Ideal weather station sites feature level ground with no nearby trees, buildings, or steep terrain. Undesirable locations include areas affected by building warmth, tree sheltering, frost hollows, or hilltops, as these can distort temperature, wind, and sunshine measurements.

Data collection and quality control

Each station automatically logs data from all sensors at minute intervals. This information is transmitted to our headquarters in Exeter, where it undergoes rigorous quality control checks. For new records, additional investigations ensure that measurements are robust and meet international standards. Observations are often labelled ‘provisionally broken’ until full verification is completed. If a reading fails to meet standards, it is excluded from official records.

Only data from official Met Office stations are considered for the UK’s weather and climate records, as amateur stations do not meet the same stringent requirements

Third party weather observations

The Met Office also accesses a wide range of high-quality third-party weather observations to support our operations. These data sources include contributions from government and industry sectors, as well as the public via automated weather stations. Many of these commercial stations routinely connect to central databases managed by their manufacturers, allowing for efficient and reliable data sharing.

This approach replaces the Weather Observations Website (WOW), which for over a decade enabled thousands of public contributors to send their data directly to the Met Office. As technology has advanced, WOW has become outdated, and this change forms part of a broader strategy to support and enhance our core networks, ensuring our data streams remain robust and fit for the future.