A new forecast centre dedicated to space weather is due to officially open in Exeter later today.
The Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre is designed to protect the UK's economy and infrastructure from severe events caused by space weather.
The weather in space will be monitored from a new dedicated centre in the city.
The Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre is designed to protect the UK's economy and infrastructure from severe events caused by space weather.
Activity at the Sun can have a disruptive influence on Earth, such as disturbing satellites, power grids and radio communications .
The Met Office has co-ordinating operational forecasting for a number of weeks, working with experts across the UK and in the US, which has had a prediction service for many years.
The event today will be led by Science Minister Greg Clark, who will formally inaugurate the British centre of excellence at the meteorological office's Exeter HQ.
Solar storms are now listed as one of most serious threats on the National Risk Register, along with flu and volcanic eruptions in Iceland. These phenomena are considered to have the potential to cause major economic upheaval, and the government has ordered contingencies be put in place to help protect the UK.
