Fire disrupts Met Office systems

Business continuity plans get systems back up

The Met Office’s forecasting systems were affected last week after a small fire disrupted power supplies at its Exeter headquarters.

The fire burned through power cables at about 11.30am on 26 October, affecting forecasting and other computer systems.

Business continuity plans put in place by the weather forecaster meant that media broadcasts could continue functioning.

After being given the all-clear by fire services, the Met Office brought systems back online and all operations were fully functioning by that evening.

‘Contingency measures minimised the impact of the power failure,’ said a Met Office spokesman last week.