The open day will enable walkers and climbers to see how mountain forecasts are prepared

Britain’s national weather forecasting agency is opening its doors to walkers and climbers.

The Meteorological Office – known to most people as the Met Office – is holding an open day to give outdoor enthusiasts a behind-the-scenes look at the organisation’s headquarters in Exeter.

The programme for visitors will include a talk and tour lasting about 2hr 20min, during which walkers and climbers can learn about weather forecasting and climate research. Visitors will then be free to look around the centre, which is near Exeter airport.

The Met Office is a trading fund of the Ministry of Defence, so for security reasons places must be booked in advance, and are limited to a maximum of four per person. Identity will also have to be provided on the day of the open day, 27 March.

Bookings can be made via the mountain forecast section of the Met Office website.  A direct link to the mountain forecasts can be found on grough’s links page; click on the tab at the head of this page.

Enquiries can also be made by emailing the Met Office.

The Meteorological Office was established in 1854, and began its first public radio forecasts in 1922.