Changes to the Met Office Weather Observation Website

For over a decade, the Met Office’s Weather Observations Website (WOW) has enabled weather fans of all ages to share their observations with meteorologists and other enthusiasts. WOW has helped us gather valuable data from schools, families, and community groups, as well as from automated weather stations across the UK and beyond.

However, technology has moved on since WOW was launched in 2011. Today, many automated weather stations connect directly to manufacturer databases, and users can access their own data via mobile apps and other platforms. While the data the public send us from their weather stations remains important, the technology behind the WOW website is now out of date.

What’s changing?

The Met Office will be retiring the WOW website later this year (2026). The Met Office is investing in new technology and data partnerships which will enable public contributions to be made in future via the services provided by weather station manufacturers who collect public automatic weather station data, rather than directly through WOW. This transition will ensure we continue to receive valuable data from the public, but through more modern, scalable, and sustainable channels.

What does this mean for you?

If you have an automated weather station, you may be able to continue sharing your data through your manufacturer’s platform.

Schools and community groups can still play a vital role in weather observation, and we encourage you to keep exploring, measuring, and learning about the weather.

The Voluntary Climate Network (VCN) will continue to be supported, with a new submission tool for manual climate observations coming soon.

Why does weather observation matter?

Every observation helps meteorologists build a clearer picture of what’s happening across the country. Your measurements can contribute to better forecasts, more accurate warnings, and a deeper understanding of our changing climate.

Thank You to Our Contributors

We’re grateful to everyone who has shared their data and enthusiasm over the years. Your efforts have helped make UK weather science more accurate and accessible.