Meteorological Department - Jersey Airport

The Meteorological Department at Jersey Airport has been forecasting the weather for the whole of the Channel Islands since the early 1950s. Then the work was almost entirely for aviation but now forecasts for the general public make up over half of the Department's output. To assist in the production of these forecasts the Department receives information for Europe and the North Atlantic from the United Kingdom Meteorological Office, Meteo France and other sources.

Headed by Principal Meteorological Officer Tony Pallot, his team of 15 staff record, observe and forecast the weather for the Channel Islands.

Modern technology allows for the visualisation of this data in a much more rapid and flexible way which, when combined with satellite and radar imagery, gives the forecaster the information he needs to analyse the weather situation and produce forecasts and warnings. Jersey Met. Department also plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of aircraft operations across the Channel as part of its comprehensive weather service. Weather radar based in Jersey provides continual surveillance for thunderstorms, squalls and other severe weather over the area.

Forecasting and observing office at the Airport.

An Automatic Weather Station provides data for compiling observations of the weather, while another computer system receives the data required by the forecaster from the UK Met. Office in Exeter. Forecasts and warnings are produced on word processors and distributed to customers via e-mail or fax.