Breaking up is hard to do – the Met Office and BBC

THIS month has seen the end of a relationship that began in November 1922 when the Met Office provided the BBC’s first radio weather bulletin.

MeteoGroup, an international private forecast company, finally takes over.

It was due to replace the Met Office last spring but its new system was apparently months behind schedule.

This meant the BBC had to sign a new contract with the Met Office which has now come to an end.

The Met Office’s first forecast in a newspaper was in 1861, on BBC radio in 1922 and on TV in 1954.

It will continue to provide forecasts to ITV, S4C, Channel 5 and Sky and online news outlets and its national severe weather warnings will still be seen and heard on the BBC.

It also produces forecasts for two-thirds of the world’s airlines.

The Met Office website at www.metoffice.gov.uk provides a wealth of information including surface pressure charts and rainfall radar.

In addition to the typical five-day forecast, a detailed map version allows you to look at the forecast for your weather parameter of choice.

From the five-day forecast page for your location, follow the ‘detailed forecast map’ link.

Click on the ‘show’ arrowhead and this opens up a range of options.