Updated Met Office CIMO Classification List – not getting Better.

In early 2024 I obtained under Freedom of Information Request the Met Office list of weather stations by CIMO classification for temperature and humidity. The original list can be found here. It became apparent that this listing was no longer up to date with a number of stations appearing to be closed (e.g. Malham Tarn and Ringmer) and new sites appearing on the list of Climate and Synoptic Stations such as Tealing and Bratton Fleming:Haxton.

I was supplied with a new listing which I have screen captured onto my laptop screen below for others to view.

Some notable alterations are:

Hastings downgraded from Class 1 to Class 4 subsequent to my challenge here.

Edenbridge Similarly challenged as above, amended from Class 1 to Class 4 but omitted from latest listing. I have confirmed it is still an operational site.

Bramham Reviewed here subsequent to downgrade from Class 1 to Class 4 – no specific reason known though possibly originally a default error as Met Office system assumes Class 1 unless manually amended.

Fair Isle Reviewed here again possibly a default error causing downgrade from Class 1 to Class 4.

Thorney Island Downgraded from Class 1 to Class 3 – not yet reviewed, however, preliminary investigation suggests possible encroachment of Solar Farm as part of Project Prometheus. This is a project to build solar farms at various military complexes (see Leconfield review) with “Baker Barracks” a known site at Thorney Island.

There are some other smaller downgrades from 1 to 2 at Benson and Manston (an ongoing story to be shortly updated) and upgrades from 2 to 1 as at Thomastown. Some new Channel Islands sites have been added plus some additional Scottish sites.

Pride of place, however, must go to the downgrade from Class 1 to Class 4 at RAF Wittering.

In my site review and Tim Channon’s original report there were two separate weather stations found to be operating simultaneously. Tim identified one as Class 4 whilst the other I studied appeared to be Class 1.

Has this apparent major downgrade come about from a former default error,…or a reassessment of the site…..or mistaken identity of which site was operational….or are both still being used….. or ???

Now for those wishing to view my laptop screen……..