How we create weather forecasts
Creating forecasts is a complex process which is constantly being updated. It involves the application of technology and detailed meteorological knowledge of how the atmosphere, the Earth’s surface and the oceans work.
Modern weather forecasting applies scientific knowledge to predict future atmospheric conditions across the globe from observations of the current state, made from land; at sea; in the air, and from space.
First steps
Creating an accurate simulation of the atmosphere, oceans and land surface to predict the weather. Collecting observations and assimilating them into the forecast model.
Hours ahead: 0–24 hours
How we produce the weather forecast which
will tell you what it will be like in a few hours time.
Days ahead: 1–14 days
How we produce the weather forecast for the
next few days.
Months ahead
Find out more about the complex science of long-range forecasting.
