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A £1.2 billion investment has been confirmed for a state-of-the-art supercomputer to improve severe weather and climate forecasting.

Data from this new supercomputer – expected to be the world’s most advanced dedicated to weather and climate – will be used to help more accurately predict storms, select the most suitable locations for flood defences and predict changes to the global climate.

The new supercomputer, to be managed by the Met Office in Exeter, will also be used to help ensure communities can be better prepared for weather disruption.

It will provide more sophisticated rainfall predictions, helping the Environment Agency rapidly deploy mobile flood defences, give better forecasting at airports so they can plan for potential disruption and supply more detailed information for the energy sector to help them mitigate against potential energy blackouts and surges.

Data from the supercomputer will be used to inform Government policy as part of leading the global fight against climate change and meeting net zero emission targets.

Business and Energy Secretary and COP26 President Alok Sharma said: “Over the last 30 years, new technologies have meant more accurate weather forecasting, with storms being predicted up to five days in advance.

“Come rain or shine, our significant investment for a new supercomputer will further speed up weather predictions, helping people be more prepared for weather disruption from planning travel journeys to deploying flood defences.”

The new supercomputer will also strengthen the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s supercomputing and data technology capabilities, driving forward innovation and growing world-class skills across supercomputing, data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence.