From severe weather and flooding to climate change and national security, the Met Office plays a critical role in supporting government decision-making not only across the UK but internationally as well.
From severe weather and flooding to climate change and national security, the Met Office plays a critical role in supporting government decision-making not only across the UK but internationally as well.
Our work combines world-leading science with trusted partnerships, helping protect lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and the economy. By delivering value from science through its practical application, the Met Office is far more than a weather forecast provider. We work closely with government departments, devolved governments, emergency responders and international partners to ensure that timely, accurate and actionable information is available when it matters most.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the ways in which the Met Office works alongside UK governments to help people make informed decisions, stay safe and thrive.
Supporting government through science and services
Incidents ranging from severe weather and flooding to volcanic eruptions, plume dispersion and tidal events can have far-reaching impacts on society. The Met Office provides warnings, forecasts and specialist advice to help authorities prepare for and respond to these risks.
Our scientific excellence underpins everything we do. Through close collaboration with government and civil contingency networks, we ensure that our services are tailored to real-world needs. These long-standing partnerships allow effective action to be taken during high-impact events, reducing disruption and helping to save lives.
Legislation supporting the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 recognises the Met Office’s responsibility to warn the public and provide information and advice when emergencies are likely or underway. This includes issuing severe weather warnings, plume predictions and tidal alerts, as well as offering expert guidance from our forecasters, scientists and advisors.
Working with emergency responders and resilience partners
The Met Office’s designation as a Category 2 Responder, formalised in February 2023, recognises its vital role in the UK’s national resilience framework. This status highlights the organisation’s significant contribution to protecting lives and property during severe weather and major incidents, acknowledging its expertise in delivering timely weather forecasts and warnings. As a Category 2 Responder, the Met Office is now formally integrated into emergency planning and response structures, working closely with Local Resilience Forums, emergency responders, and government agencies.
Its dedicated Civil Contingency Advisors provide 24/7 support, participating in multi-agency exercises and high-level government meetings, ensuring the Met Office remains a trusted and authoritative source of weather and climate advice during emergencies across the country.Our Civil Contingency Advisors are based across the UK and work directly with organisations such as the police, fire services, utilities and resilience forums. They provide advice on the potential impacts of weather and help decision-makers interpret forecasts during rapidly evolving situations.
In addition to the National Severe Weather Warning Service, we supply detailed rainfall forecasts to organisations such as the Environment Agency, NI Direct, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), supporting flood risk assessment and response, as well as specialist forecasts for industry. Longer-term guidance, including our rolling three-month outlook, also helps authorities plan for future weather patterns.
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Defence and security partnerships
Weather and environmental conditions influence almost all military activities, affecting people, platforms, weapons and sensors. For more than 100 years, the Met Office has supported defence and security operations by providing critical weather and climate intelligence.
The Mobile Met Unit (MMU) is a unique RAF Sponsored Reserve Unit staffed by Met Office meteorologists and engineers who combine their civilian expertise with military service. This deployable team provides critical weather and environmental intelligence to UK and allied forces during operations and exercises worldwide, ensuring commanders have accurate, timely forecasts to inform mission planning and safety. Equipped with portable systems, the MMU can establish a Met Office forecast capability almost anywhere, from desert environments to remote airfields, delivering an operational edge in challenging conditions.
The Met Office also works closely with UK defence partners and international allies, including NATO, delivering tailored weather and climate services for operations worldwide. Our involvement in joint exercises and collaborative research ensures that guidance is relevant, reliable and informed by operational experience.
This long-term engagement allows us to understand the needs of defence users and deliver information that supports effective, informed decision-making in complex and high-risk environments.
Supporting devolved governments
The Met Office works closely with all UK governments, providing services and scientific evidence that support policy development and operational decision-making across the nation.
With presences around the UK, the Met Office delivers a wide range of services to support resilience and preparedness. Civil Contigency Advisors work alongside resilience teams and emergency responders to ensure readiness for high-impact weather, climate understanding. The Met Office also contributes to energy, transport, and climate adaptation goals across the UK.
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Climate science and evidence for policy
Climate change is one of the most significant long-term challenges facing society. The Met Office provides robust scientific evidence to help government understand climate risks, plan effective adaptation and support the transition to a more resilient, net-zero future.
The Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme, funded by government, plays a central role in delivering policy-relevant climate science. Its research informs national and international decision-making, contributing to assessments such as the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment and reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Met Office scientists have played leading roles in IPCC assessments, which show unequivocally that the climate is warming and that human activities are the dominant cause. This evidence underpins policies aimed at reducing emissions, managing risks and adapting to unavoidable change.
Informing national risk assessments and adaptation planning
The Met Office is leading the consortium producing the technical report for the Fourth UK Climate Change Risk Assessment. This work provides the scientific foundation for understanding climate risks to infrastructure, health, ecosystems and the economy.
Met Office science also supports the National Adaptation Programme, helping government identify priority actions to build resilience across sectors. By providing trusted data and analysis, we enable evidence-based decisions that protect communities and support sustainable growth.
Supporting food, farming and the natural environment
Climate change presents significant challenges for agriculture and food security. The Met Office works with Defra and partners to deliver climate services that help farmers, policymakers and the wider food system adapt to changing conditions.
Using UK Climate Projections, we assess risks such as heat stress in livestock, drought impacts on crops, pest and disease emergence, and supply chain vulnerabilities. These insights inform policy development, contingency planning and long-term resilience strategies.
Through collaboration with academic institutions and industry partners, our work supports innovation, risk management and adaptation across the food and farming sector.
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Working internationally
The Met Office is a trusted partner for governments, national meteorological services and international organisations around the world. By sharing expertise and building capacity, we help improve global weather forecasting, early warning systems and climate services.
Effective weather and climate services are essential for disaster risk reduction, economic development and climate adaptation. Through international partnerships, the Met Office supports sustainable development and helps communities better manage the impacts of climate variability and change.
A trusted partner for government
At every level, from local resilience forums to international climate negotiations, the Met Office works alongside government to deliver science and services that makes a difference. Our blend of operational excellence, research leadership and trusted relationships ensures decision makers have the information they need to act with confidence.
By continuing to invest in science, collaboration and innovation, the Met Office remains committed to supporting government in building a safer, more resilient and sustainable future.
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.
