We receive many weather observations from Met Office staff at various locations, like airfields. But we also benefit from UK weather stations run voluntarily by private individuals, local authorities, water companies, agricultural bodies, industrial concerns, universities, and other educational and research establishments.

Weather observations must be made regularly at fixed times each day throughout the year by a trained observer, using accurate instruments of standard design. Only then can we compare reports from stations in the UK and overseas.

This is why certain conditions must be met for us to recognise you as a voluntary station, and for your observations to be entered into the National Meteorological Archive.

The information included on this page is a brief guide only.

Contact our Customer Centre for more details.

Four main station types operate on a voluntary basis:

• Rainfall stations - rainfall is measured at about 5,000 UK stations; observers complete forms each month that give the daily totals
• Climatological stations - about 500 stations make detailed observations daily, including rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind speed/direction, cloud amount, visibility, ground state and sunshine. The data are sent in on forms or on disk at the end of each month
• Health resort stations - under the Health resort scheme, various coastal and inland stations telephone some data to an automatic receiving centre for transmission to the Met Office. These reports are included daily in official releases to the press
• Agricultural meteorological (Agromet) stations - these are maintained by people or organisations interested in the effects of the weather on horticulture, forestry and agriculture. Stations record additional data such as soil temperature, solar radiation and run-of-wind.
   

Observations are to be made each day of the year by a competent observer at 0900 UTC (Universal Time Co-ordinated) - 9 a.m. in the winter, 10 a.m. during BST.

Instruments should be of a standard design, and should be set up on generally level ground away from obstructions like fences, plants, trees and buildings.

The site should be representative of its general location and have a planned life-span of more than five years.

The minimum elements measured at UK climatological stations are daily maximum and minimum air temperature, and daily rainfall amount. While most stations produce manual readings, we can also accept observations from some automatic weather stations (AWS).

Many schools have weather stations but difficulties of observing at the standard time, ensuring regular supervision by teachers, and of keeping continuous records over weekends and holidays can prevent them from joining the scheme.
 

All observations are made by a competent observer, with at least one deputy observer available to ensure continuity for each day of the year.

Manual observations are usually recorded in the Pocket Register for climatological observers (Metform 3100), which is accompanied by full instructions (Metform 3100A) for completing the monthly return form. Records of any significant weather are made in the Weather Diary. The observations and Weather Diary should be entered onto the form each day to reduce the task at the end of the month and help data returns to be sent promptly. Each co-operating station also receives a free copy of the Observer's Handbook.
 

This table shows the instrument specification for using automatic measurements. The same specifications apply to manual observations.

Co-operating observers must send in a return listing all daily observations at the end of each month. Monthly return forms/disks are supplied free, together with prepaid addressed envelopes. Each station is urged to complete as much of the return as possible.

It is important to forward your return as soon as possible after the end of the month (it should reach us no later than the 6th of the following month).

The form Metform 3208B enables the direct keying of weather information into computer data sets. After a little practice, you should encounter little difficulty in completing your return. Completion of the Weather Diary on the reverse of the form helps staff performing quality control comparison checks.

It is also now possible to submit monthly data on disk. Data Input System for Climatological Stations (DISCS) runs under Windows 3.1, and logs the daily readings and Weather Diary. It also automatically calculates monthly totals and means.

Where observations have been made by an automatic weather station (AWS), data can be submitted using the CAWS (Met Office Climatological AWS) format. This allows the transfer of a series of observations made over set periods (usually a month).
 

 
Stations are provided, free of charge, with:

• free monthly return forms or disks
;
• prepaid addressed envelopes;
• Pocket registers for recording observations;
• The Observer's Handbook
;
• free sunshine cards (if making sunshine records)
  
  

 
If you can meet our requirements, we will ask for plans of the site. These should be shown, where possible, on a large-scale map showing the precise position, National Grid Reference and height above mean sea level. A detailed large-scale plan is also required showing neighbouring obstructions, distances from the site and heights.

A site visit is normally be made by a Met Office representative to confirm suitability. Soon after the establishment of a co-operating station, a further visit is made to inspect the station and discuss any difficulties. Visits are then made every three years.
 

 
Observers are encouraged to attend residential training courses at the Met Office College in Exeter, or in Edinburgh (for observers in Scotland) - no fee is charged. Travel expenses are refunded and accommodation is provided.