The Met Office launched a major upgrade to its weather forecasting system on 9 February 2026 to improve forecasting nationally, with particular benefits for residents in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The change is designed to give people better notice about heavy rain and strong winds that could cause travel problems or local flooding.
The new system focuses on higher-resolution, localized forecasting, which helps forecasters more precisely predict likely start and stop times for downpours. This is particularly important for local drivers using the M25 and A404, as well as households in areas such as Batchworth and Money Hill near the River Colne.
According to the Met Office, the update is the first major scientific model upgrade to take advantage of its new Microsoft Azure-based supercomputing platform. This technology allows the agency to run more complex calculations and more model runs throughout the day to keep forecasts current. Professor Simon Vosper, Director of Science at the Met Office, said: “We made a range of improvements; first and very topical at the moment is the UK’s rainfall, so the quality of our rainfall forecasts has improved very markedly.” Residents can now view the improved forecasts on the Met Office website and in its mobile app.
