London to Rio

Accurate information about what weather to expect has not only been a cornerstone of planning for London 2012, it has also been vital for day to day running of the Olympic Games.

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2012-08-13

Four years ago UK Met Office forecasters visited the Chinese Meteorological Administration to see how they successfully provided services for the Beijing Olympics.

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Now, as the Met Office delivers for organisers, athletes and spectators in London, representatives from Brazil's national met service are observing our teams at work to help them plan for Rio 2016.

Marcia dos Santos Seabra from Brazil's Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET) has spent time observing the Met Office forecasting operation on location at Olympic sites and at our Exeter Headquarters.

She said: "This has been a great opportunity to learn more about the work the Met Office has been doing ahead of and during the Games. Seeing their cutting edge science, on-site forecasters and clear communications, I have been very impressed with how they have delivered world class forecast services for this fantastic Olympics."

There are already countless examples of accurate forecasting helping organisers during the current games.

For example, Andy Murray's gold medal win against Roger Federer went ahead on Wimbledon's Centre Court with the roof off after Met Office forecasters predicted a dry spell following on from a morning of rain showers.

John Hirst, Chief Executive of the Met Office, said: "Our job for London 2012 is to help organisers minimise the impact of the weather on the sporting action and make sure everyone, from athletes to the spectators, is prepared for what the weather has in store.

"By offering climate information for all the venues to help advance planning, to utilising the latest technology to deliver the most accurate daily forecasts available, we're helping everyone stay one step ahead of the weather."

You can see more about the Met Office's forecasting operations during London 2012 on our dedicated Olympic pages, which detail some of the cutting edge techniques we are using.

Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the United Nation's World Meteorological Organization said: "Weather and climate know no national boundaries, and this is why we need strong international cooperation.

"Reliable information is critical for many socio-economic activities, including sport. The 2012 Olympics have showcased detailed and accurate weather forecasts for athletes, supporters and organizers. The World Meteorological Organization commends the Met Office for sharing its scientific and technological know-how with the Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia of Brazil for the good of future Olympic Games and indeed future generations."

source: UK Met Office

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