weersinstanties

Weersinstanties is the Dutch term for weather agencies or meteorological authorities. These organizations operate at national, regional, or international levels to observe the atmosphere, forecast weather, and provide information that supports safety, transportation, agriculture, and public planning.

Their core functions include collecting atmospheric data from weather stations, radar networks, satellites, and weather balloons; running numerical weather prediction models; and producing forecasts for various time horizons. They issue warnings for severe weather such as storms, heat waves, floods, and strong winds, and provide specialized meteorological services for aviation, maritime, and emergency management. In addition to short-term forecasts, they monitor climate trends, maintain historical weather data archives, and produce climate normals for reference.

Governance and collaboration are typical features of weersinstanties. They are usually publicly funded institutions, sometimes part of a national ministry or science agency. They participate in international frameworks, notably the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and collaborate with regional centers to support data exchange and model development. Data and products are often made openly available to researchers, businesses, and the public, though some datasets may have licensing restrictions.

Examples of prominent weather agencies include the KNMI (the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) in the Netherlands, the Met Office in the United Kingdom, the National Weather Service in the United States, and Météo-France in France. The activities of these agencies play a central role in daily weather services, climate research, and disaster preparedness.