The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of gases, water vapour, and tiny particles like dust, smoke, and sea salt. It stretches high above us and is divided into five main layers, seen below. But for weather, the most important parts are the ones closest to Earth’s surface: the troposphere and the bottom of the stratosphere.

Some may think it’s one of those jobs which anyone might turn their hand to, but the difficulties of weather forecasting are hugely underrated. After all, there aren’t many jobs where you’re expected to predict the future. Economists are also required to make forecasts, but at least they have some control over the system they are foretelling. When it comes to weather, meteorologists have no such influence.

Accurate weather forecasting requires three key ingredients – trustworthy observations, reliable computer models, and experienced meteorologists.

Weather maps as they appear on TV, in a newspaper or here are called 'surface charts' or, more correctly, 'Mean Sea Level' (MSL) charts. They show what is happening at a set time where most of us need it - at the Earth's surface.