BRITAIN'S FORECASTING SERVICES - AND WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT TODAY

According to the Meteorological Office, weather reports are the third most popular programme on television.

80 per cent of us watch weather bulletins at least five days a week.

98 per cent of us claim to be interested in local forecasts.

90 per cent of us seek weather information at least once a day.

THE METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE

Based: London

Supplies: the BBC, most national newspapers, Independent Weather Productions, a division of the Met Office; provides information for ITV breakfast service GMTV, BBC teletext service Ceefax and Yorkshire Television. Backing the new Weather Channel venture, with US company Landmark.

THE WEATHER DEPARTMENT

Based: Birmingham

Supplies: the Sporting Life, and ITV regional services Central, Scottish, Tyne Tees and Ulster. Also S4C, the Travel Channel (satellite), SIC-TV (Portugal's main commercial service) and TV Norga (Norway's main commercial service). Runs premium rate phone/fax information services, and is a joint venture partner in the new Weather Network, with Canadian media giant Pelmorex.

OCEAN ROUTES

Based: Aberdeen (part of the Weather News International Group)

Supplies: mainly the offshore oil industry and shipping. Some media concerns, including the Aberdeen Independent newspaper, Grampian TV, Rai-TV (Italian commercial station), ITV's Teletext service and Videotron (a London cable operator). Also some local radio stations and premium-rate phone services.

NOBLE DENTON WEATHER SERVICES

Based: London

Supplies: mainly scientific forecasting - offshore oil industry, ship routing. A few media concerns.

BRITISH WEATHER SERVICES

Based: High Wycombe

Supplies: premium-rate phone and online weather services.

AND THEIR FORECASTS FOR TODAY?

The Met Office says: "Northern Scotland will see some cloud and light rain, but it will be sunny and increasingly hot over the rest of the UK."

The Weather Department says: "An area of low pressure will come in from the South-west. In the South a warm, humid day with temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s, with weakening sunshine."

Ocean Routes says: "Moderate south-westerly winds will spread showers over Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and northern England, but in other areas a warm and sunny day."