Marine Weather Expert
FRMetS, Applied Meteorology 1978, Advanced Forecasting 1985
Worldwide
Richard Stretch is currently employed as a Senior Scientist under the Marine Programme in Weather Analytics within Applied Science at the Met Office.
The bulk of Richard's work involves retrospective marine weather assessment, used in support of the legal and insurance industry and sometimes involving the delivery of expert testimony at court hearings and arbitrations.
He became a forecaster in the organisation in 1978 after completion of the Applied Meteorology Course at the Met Office College. From 1982-1985 and 1986 to 1988 he was employed as a forecaster by International Aeradio Limited in the UAE. In the UK his forecasting career has been spent in the Met Office.
He was a marine forecaster in Aberdeen & London for North Sea Oil operations 1985-86. At Southampton, from 1988 -1998, he provided forecasts for the Public Weather Services and Utilities as well as radio broadcasts and international yachting team briefings. From 1999-2004 he was a forecaster at the International Forecast Unit in Bracknell and Exeter, producing forecast services to the global marine market. Between 2001 and 2004 he specialised in compiling the United Kingdom Shipping Forecast and the Atlantic High Seas Forecast.
Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society