Archive Information - Scotland and Northern Ireland

The National Meteorological Archive (NMA) in Exeter holds observation data, in paper format, for Met Office sites in England, Wales and around the world including St Helena and the Falkland Islands. It also holds a large collection of published materials, as well as private weather diaries which pre-date the foundation of the Met Office and international data produced by other meteorological services.

Many enquiries can be fulfilled using electronic data resources. Staff at the NMA have access to electronic data for all Met Office sites and are able to provide this to members of the public without charge, subject to our data policy.

Met Office observation data in paper format relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland is not held in Exeter but is instead retained in its country of origin. The majority of this data has not been digitised and is only available to view by visiting the archives in person. This page is intended to help you to access these records.

Northern Ireland

Observation data relating to Northern Ireland, and some early meteorological records from before the partition of Ireland in 1921 are held at the Public Records Office Northern Ireland (PRONI). These consist of daily registers, climatological returns, tabulated data and autographic records.  The NMA have produced a data guide  which gives further guidance on different types of meteorological data and their uses.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)
2 Titanic Boulevard
Titanic Quarter
Belfast
BT3 9HQ

Website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
E:mail [email protected]
Telephone: (+44) 028 90 534800

Unfortunately the online eCatalogue does not show the available meteorological resources in detail however specific lists are held by both PRONI and the NMA. If you would like to access meteorological observations for Northern Ireland we would advise that you contact the National Meteorological Archive with your query on [email protected] . NMA staff will then check the list of records held and can advise you of whether the archives hold materials which can help you, and whether any electronic data is available. The list of holdings is available to view here.

If the records you wish to see are held in the Met Office archive collection at PRONI and there are no relevant electronic records you will need to contact PRONI and order the records you wish to see at least 5 days prior to your planned visit. NMA staff will provide you with the relevant references and you should then e-mail PRONI to arrange to view the records.

PRONI staff are not specialists in meteorological data. The NMA Data Guide will help you to understand the majority of records. If you wish to view a type of data for which the guide recommends further assistance the NMA can arrange for a member of Met Office staff to help you with the records you have requested. This service is provided by appointment only.

Records relating to Scotland

The meteorological records for Scotland, consisting of Met Office data and a small amount of early meteorological historical material and private weather diaries previously in the ownership of the Scottish Meteorological Society have been transferred to National Records of Scotland. A brief classification scheme, showing the types of records and their location can be found here. The NMA data guide gives further guidance on different types of meteorological data and their uses.

If you are unable to easily identify the location of the records you are seeking please contact the National Meteorological Archive on [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you.

More detailed information is available from the NRS catalogue:  http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/welcome.aspx 

You can also identify scottish meteorological records by searching the National Meteorological Library and Archive catalogue:
https://library.metoffice.gov.uk/Portal/Default/en-GB/Search/SimpleSearch

If the records you wish to see are held in the Met Office archive collection at NRS and there are no relevant electronic records you will need to contact NRS and order the records you wish to see at least 5 days prior to your planned visit. Please note there is a request limit of 12 items per day.

National Records of Scotland (NRS)
General Register House
2 Princes Street
Edinburgh
Scotland
EH1 3YY

Website: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/about-us/contact-us
Telephone: 0131 535 1314

NRS staff are not specialists in meteorological data. The NMA Data Guide will help you to understand the majority of records. If you wish to view a type of data for which the guide recommends further assistance the NMA can arrange for a member of Met Office staff to help you with the records you have requested. This service is provided by appointment only.

Please note climatological returns from before 1914 have been digitised and are available from our digitial library and archive.