The Met Office operates a dedicated Space Weather Operations Centre, working around the clock to protect national systems and services from the Sun's activity.
Space weather, driven by solar activity, may sound distant and abstract, but its effects can be felt right here on Earth. From disrupting GPS and radio communications to damaging satellites and power grids, space weather events can pose risks to modern infrastructure. That’s where the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC) comes in.
Established in 2014, MOSWOC is one of only a handful of 24/7 space weather forecasting centres in the world. Its mission is to monitor solar activity and forecast space weather events that could impact the UK and beyond. Using a combination of ground-based instruments and satellite data, MOSWOC tracks solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and solar radiation storms, phenomena that can disturb Earth’s magnetic field and ionosphere, triggering geomagnetic storms.
These storms can interfere with satellite operations, aviation, and even ground-based infrastructure. For example, solar radiation storms can reach Earth in as little as ten minutes, potentially affecting high-frequency radio communications. CMEs, which take longer to arrive, have the potential to disrupt some power grids and navigation systems.
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How do we do it?
To improve forecasting accuracy, the Met Office also collaborates with scientific institutions and invests in new monitoring technologies.
A recent milestone is the installation of a ground-based neutron monitor in Cornwall, the first in the UK in over 40 years. Developed by Lancaster University and partners, this monitor detects Ground Level Enhancements (GLEs), which are spikes in neutron activity caused by solar radiation storms.
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These monitors join a global network of around 45 similar sensors, enhancing the UK’s ability to issue timely alerts and validate forecasts. With space weather forecasting estimated to be worth £800 million to the UK economy over the next decade, the work of MOSWOC is not just scientific, it’s strategic.
While space weather doesn’t influence day-to-day weather forecasting, its long-term monitoring is vital for protecting the technology that underpins our daily lives.
Keep up to date with weather warnings, and you can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.