Work on the new building in Exeter started in 2001

The new �80m headquarters will eventually allow the Met Office to move all of its operations in Bracknell in Berkshire under one roof in Devon.

Four hundred staff are already working from Exeter and a further 750 employees will move to the centre in the next two months.

But television viewers and radio listeners will not notice any difference to the forecasts.

Two computers are being used to handle the huge amounts of weather data for the Met Office's customers, 24 hours a day.

Peter Ewins said it was "exciting times"

The Met Office had grown too big for its main building in Bracknell, which it moved into in 1961.

It says the move to state-of-the-art premises will help it to improve the effectiveness of its operations and encourage the development of innovative products and services.

Met Office chief executive Peter Ewins said: "It's a very exciting time for us, starting to work in a vastly different and greatly improved environment.

"In December 2001, we said our aim was to be operational in Exeter by September 2003.

Training facilities

"The fact we have achieved our aim, and done so within budget, is a great tribute to all concerned."

The multi-million pound contract to build and maintain the new Met Office was awarded to Stratus - a consortium comprising Costain-Skanska and Global Solutions Limited - in 2001.

The new building includes sports and training facilities, restaurant, conference centre and offices all located around an internal street.

It is forecast to bring in an extra �69m into the local economy every year.