Accessibility statement for the Met Office Android mobile application

This accessibility statement applies to the Met Office mobile application available on Android devices.

This mobile application is run by the Met Office. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this mobile application. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • Navigate most of the app using a screen reader (including the most recent version of TalkBack)
  • View our presented video forecast with subtitles

We’ve also made the mobile application text as simple as possible to understand.

The Met Office App is a native app built for Android devices. This means you can use the built-in accessibility settings on your phone:

How accessible this mobile application is

We know some parts of this mobile application are not fully accessible:

  • Our rainfall, cloud and surface pressure and UK warnings maps do not have a text alternative. They also cannot be used in landscape orientation on smaller devices such as phones. Functionality is lost when the viewing area of the map is reduced in landscape mode on these devices. We recommend using the location search to find a place where you can get the forecast for that location. Alternatively, you can call our 24 hour helpline on 0370 900 0100 for the latest forecast information.
  • Advertising in the app may at times fail some of the accessibility guidelines. This content is provided by a third party supplier and is not always within our control. You may be able to reduce the effects of this within your device, by opening the Settings app > Accessibility > Display > Remove Animations.
  • The widgets are not fully accessible. However, all of the information contained in the widget has an accessible version within the app itself. You can set the widget to any transparency level you like, however we recommend having the transparency set to 100% in order to view the information.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information in this mobile application in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille please contact [email protected]

We aim to respond to all reasonable requests for accessible information.

If you require any forecast information in this mobile application described over the phone, or have any other queries please contact our 24 hour helpline:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 0370 900 0100 (from the UK)
  • Phone: +44 330 135 0000 (outside the UK)

Reporting accessibility problems with this mobile application

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this mobile application. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: [email protected]

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this mobile application’s accessibility

The Met Office is committed to making its mobile application accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This mobile application is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

  • The home screen widgets are not usable in landscape mode. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.4 Orientation. We aim to address this by April 2023.
  • The largest widget cannot be fully navigated using a single tap gesture. This fails WCAG success criterion 2.5.1 pointer gestures. We aim to address this by January 2023.
  • There are some instances where non-text content doesn’t have alternative text. This fails WCAG success criterion 1.1.1 ‘Non-text Content’. For example, on the privacy preferences banner the back button and filter button do not have alternative text. These issues are reliant on software provided by third parties. The third parties involved are aware of the issues and are also working to address them. We expect this to be resolved by the end of 2022.
  • There are instances where status changes are not announced on search results, for example on the privacy preferences banner when searching for a vendor. This fails WCAG success criterion 4.1.3 ‘Status Messages’. These issues are reliant on software provided by third parties. The third parties involved are aware of the issues and are also working to address them. We expect this to be resolved by the end of 2022.

Disproportionate burden

Audio description for prerecorded national weather videos

We do not provide audio description for our daily national weather videos since all the information in the video track is already provided in the audio track, so no audio description should be necessary. Our presenters are provided with guidance to make our videos as accessible as possible.

Content that's not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

Online maps and mapping services

Our weather maps (rainfall, cloud and surface pressure) do not have text equivalents. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content). We do not plan to make these maps accessible as online maps and mapping services are exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations. 

Advertising

Our advertising may at times fail WCAG success criteria such as 1.1.1 ‘Non-text Content’, 2.2.2 ‘Pause, Stop, Hide’, or 2.3.1 ‘Three flashes or Below Threshold’. This content is provided by a third party and is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations. There are some steps you may be able to take in order to limit the effects of this. In Android open the Settings app > Accessibility > Display > Remove Animations.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 18th October 2022. It was last reviewed on 18th October 2022.

This mobile application was last tested on 10th June 2021. The initial test was carried out by Nomensa. Changes were made and tested on a selection of devices and operating systems which are fully supported by the Met Office.

We used the following approach:

  • Ten screens were chosen based on those most used within the app
  • The issues were identified on a screen by screen basis, showing where they were found, and referencing the relevant success criteria from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1.
  • Any non-accessible content discovered has been added to the accessibility statement with timelines for when the issue will be resolved.
  • The screens chosen to test include the following:

Weather tab (home, full forecast details, ‘edit my places’, settings, privacy preferences screen, information buttons), maps tab, warnings tab, warning details page.