UK weather forecasters are top of accuracy league
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The days of derision for the British weather forecaster may finally be at an end. As it published its latest annual report yesterday, the Meteorological Office claimed to be at the top of the world league when it came to next-day predictions.
Every week, forecasters get it right on six of the seven days, better than at any time in its 148-year history. It comes after a remarkable improvement in techniques in the past decade.
The Met Office's claim to pre-eminence comes only 15 years after its reputation suffered as bad a mauling as large areas of southern England when Michael Fish dismissed suggestions of an impending hurricane on the BBC. The winds that swept in ripped up 15 million trees, killed 20 people and caused millions of pounds of damage.
Figures released yesterday suggested that forecast accuracy had improved by 7 per cent during the past couple of years. The Met Office achieved six out of seven main targets and earned a reputation for international excellence. Peter Ewins, the chief executive, said the improvements meant the Met Office was "firmly establishing" iyself "as the best in the world".
A spokesman for the organisation said that longer-range weather forecasts for three days' time were now as accurate as next-day forecasts were 15 years ago.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments