Numerical Weather Prediction at 60: A Met Office Innovation Journey
Sixty years ago, the Met Office began a transformative path that revolutionized weather forecasting in the UK and worldwide. The adoption of numerical weather prediction (NWP) in 1965 marked a pivotal moment, bringing scientific progress, technological innovation, and steadily improving forecast accuracy.
From Early Experiments to Operational Forecasts
The story started in the early 1950s with pioneering scientists like Fred H. Hinds, guided by John S. Sawyer, who performed the first experimental weather forecasts using the EDSAC computer at Cambridge. Although early technology limited these efforts, they set the foundation for future advances.
In 1959, the installation of the Ferranti Mercury computer, nicknamed ‘Meteor’, at Dunstable was a key milestone, becoming the Met Office's first computer dedicated to NWP research.
The breakthrough came on 2 November 1965 when the English Electric KDF9 computer, known as ‘Comet’, arrived at Bracknell. The Met Office produced its first operational computer forecast on that day, attracting broad media coverage and initiating a new weather prediction era.
Advancing Science and Technology
The decades that followed experienced significant and rapid progress in NWP capabilities.
“On 2 November 1965, the Met Office produced its first operational computer forecast, a moment that received widespread media attention and signalled the start of a new era in weather prediction.”
Author's summary: The Met Office’s 60-year journey in numerical weather prediction showcases a legacy of scientific breakthroughs and technological advances that continually improve forecasting accuracy.