Numerical Weather Prediction at 60: A journey of innovation at the Met Office

Numerical Weather Prediction at 60: A Journey of Innovation at the Met Office

Sixty years ago, the Met Office began a transformative journey in weather forecasting across the United Kingdom and globally. The introduction of numerical weather prediction (NWP) in 1965 marked a pivotal moment, launching an era of scientific and technological progress alongside steadily improving forecast accuracy. As the 60th anniversary of NWP approaches, we reflect on the remarkable advancements made and anticipate a promising future.

From Early Experiments to Operational Forecasts

The NWP story at the Met Office began in the early 1950s when pioneering scientists like Fred H. Hinds, guided by John S. Sawyer, made the first experimental forecasts using the EDSAC computer at Cambridge. Despite technological limits, these efforts laid the critical groundwork.

By 1959, the installation of the Ferranti Mercury computer, nicknamed ‘Meteor’, at Dunstable was a major milestone, offering the first computer dedicated solely to NWP research.

First Operational Forecast

The real breakthrough arrived in 1965 with the English Electric KDF9 computer, ‘Comet’, at Bracknell. On 2 November 1965, the Met Office produced its first operational computer forecast, an event that attracted wide media attention and heralded a new era in weather prediction.

Advancing Science and Technology

The decades that followed brought rapid progress in weather forecasting techniques and computational power, continuing the Met Office’s legacy of innovation in meteorology.

“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: Over sixty years, the Met Office has revolutionized weather forecasting through pioneering numerical methods and cutting-edge technology, shaping the future of meteorology.

Wired-Gov — 2025-11-05