Český hydrometeorologický ústav

What Český hydrometeorologický ústav does

Český hydrometeorologický ústav (CHMI) is the central public institution of the Czech Republic responsible for meteorology, climatology, hydrology, water quality, and air quality monitoring. Headquartered in Prague-Komořany with seven regional offices (České Budějovice, Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem, Hradec Králové, Brno, Ostrava) and a workforce of approximately 650 professionals across five divisions, CHMI operates nationwide observation networks spanning weather radars, surface and groundwater hydrology, air-quality stations, and the Solar and Ozone Laboratory contributing to the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch program.

Its core technological platform is the ALADIN numerical weather prediction system, maintained since 1991 within a consortium that, since 2021, forms the ACCORD initiative comprising 26 countries. CHMI complements ALADIN with radar-based precipitation nowcasting (k-app feature, 30-minute heavy-rain warnings), the impact-based Integrated Warning System (SIVS, launching July 2026), the Smog Warning and Regulatory System (SVRS), the Flash Flood Indicator, and the open-data portal at opendata.chmi.cz. The institute holds the second European calibration standard for ozone via its Brewer spectrophotometer, three ISO 17025 laboratory accreditations, ISO 9001:2015 certification, civil aviation meteorological certification, and the Prague-Klementinum temperature series running continuously since 1775.

CHMI is funded primarily through Czech state budget allocations from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Industry and Trade, supplemented by EU programs (Horizon Europe, Interreg) and domestic grant agencies (GAČR, TAČR). Most services are delivered as free public goods to Czech citizens, government ministries, civil aviation, agriculture, research institutions, and international organizations (WMO, ECMWF, EUMETSAT, IPCC, UNFCCC). Commercial revenue streams — expert opinions, accredited calibrations, aviation meteorological services, and publications including the bimonthly Meteorologické zprávy journal (in print since 1947) priced between 109 and 399 CZK — are secondary to its public-service mandate.

Name

Český hydrometeorologický ústav

Legal name

Český hydrometeorologický ústav

Website

https://www.chmi.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Český hydrometeorologický ústav (CHMI) is the Czech Republic's central public institution for meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and air quality, operating nationwide monitoring networks, the ALADIN numerical weather prediction system, and impact-based warning services for government, aviation, agriculture, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meteorological and Environmental Monitoring Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC)

Keywords

• Weather forecasting services
• Hydrological monitoring
• Air quality monitoring
• Meteorological data services
• Climate change information

Headquarters

HQ city

Praha

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: Core funding from Czech Republic state budget through support from Ministry of Environment (MŽP), Ministry of Agriculture (MZe), Ministry of Health (MZd), Ministry of the Interior (MV), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT), Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO)
2. Research Grants: Funding from Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GAČR) and Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR) for research projects
3. European Union Funding: Funding from European Union programs including Horizon Europe and Interreg for international research collaborations
4. Professional Services and Expert Opinions: Paid services including expert opinions, assessments, official statements, accredited measurements and calibrations, meteorological services for civil aviation
5. Publication Sales: Sales of specialized publications including monographs, proceedings, annual reports, and the Meteorologické zprávy journal. Prices range from approximately 109 CZK to 399 CZK per publication.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CHMI is the central public institution of the Czech Republic for meteorology, climatology, hydrology, water quality, and air quality. It provides weather forecasts, public warnings, nationwide monitoring networks (weather radars, satellites, ground stations, hydrological sensors, air quality sensors), national databases with real-time and historical data, smog warnings, flood and drought monitoring, and specialized services including calibrated measurements, civil aviation meteorological services, and climate change resources. It issues and revokes smog regulations and integrates weather observation networks with international partners across 26 countries via the ACCORD consortium.

Product overview

Český hydrometeorologický ústav (CHMI) operates as the Czech Republic's central public institution for air quality, hydrology, water quality, climatology, and meteorology. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of products centered around its ALADIN numerical weather prediction system and the national observation network. Core products include the Počasí ČHMÚ mobile application (with new k-app radar-based precipitation nowcasting), the Innovative Integrated Warning System (SIVS, launching July 2026), and the Smog Warning and Regulatory System (SVRS). The product portfolio spans weather forecasting tools (meteograms, regional forecasts, mountain forecasts), environmental monitoring (air quality, water levels, flood mapping), specialized forecasting services (pollen, fire risk, tick activity, biometeorological conditions), open data access, aviation meteorological services, calibration laboratories, and professional publications including the Meteorologické zprávy journal. CHMI operates seven regional offices across Prague, České Budějovice, Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem, Hradec Králové, Brno, and Ostrava, and maintains national databases containing real-time and historical data from its nationwide monitoring networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Meteorologické zprávy: Professional bimonthly journal focused on meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and air quality protection, published since 1947

Products and services

• Meteorological Services for Civil Aviation Certified meteorological services for civil aviation, including weather briefings, forecasts, and observations for air traffic operations at airports and flight information regions across the Czech Republic.
• Accredited Measurements and Calibration Services ISO 17025 accredited calibration and measurement services for meteorological and air quality instruments, provided by specialized calibration laboratories within CHMI. Services include flow measurement authorization and air quality/emission calibration.
• Počasí ČHMÚ Mobile Application A free mobile weather application available on Apple Store and Google Play providing weather forecasts, current observations, severe weather warnings, radar-based precipitation nowcasting, and 30-minute advance heavy rain warnings. Available in basic and extended versions.
• Open Data Portal (Otevřená data) Public sector data portal providing free access to real-time and historical meteorological, hydrological, and air quality datasets as open data for public use, redistribution, and processing.
• Innovative Integrated Warning System (SIVS) National warning system for meteorological and hydrological hazards, transitioning to an impact-focused approach that provides warnings based on actual risk to population and infrastructure rather than climatologically determined criteria.
• Smog Warning and Regulatory System (SVRS) National system providing air quality alerts, smog situation declarations, and regulatory measures for air pollution episodes based on nationwide air quality monitoring data.
• Climate Proofing Service Specialized consulting service for assessing climate change impacts and providing climate adaptation guidance for various sectors, particularly construction and infrastructure planning, available at climateproofing.cz.
• Meteorologické zprávy Journal and Specialized Publications Bimonthly professional journal published continuously since 1947 covering meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and air quality protection, plus monographs and yearbooks published and sold (priced 109-399 CZK) or freely downloadable.
• Expert Opinions and Official Statements Paid professional services providing expert opinions, official assessments, and official statements to government bodies, legal proceedings, agriculture sector, and other industry clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 252-year continuous temperature record (1775-present) at Prague-Klementinum
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• WMO (World Meteorological Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial representative of Czech Republic to the World Meteorological Organization, participating in global meteorological cooperation and standards
• ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of ECMWF contributing to and benefiting from European medium-range weather forecasting capabilities
• EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites)coreTechnology or IntegrationMember utilizing European satellite data for meteorological observations and forecasting
• IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial representative to IPCC contributing to global climate assessment reports
• UNESCO-IHP (International Hydrological Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipant in international hydrology programs and water resources cooperation
• ACCORDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALADIN joined HIRLAM in 2021 to form ACCORD - a consortium of 26 countries for numerical weather prediction development
• RC LACEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Cooperation LACE - supporting regional collaboration in weather forecasting operations and research
• HIRLAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh Resolution Limited Area Modelling - part of ACCORD initiative for numerical weather prediction
• EEA (European Environment Agency) - EIONETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Environment Information and Observation Network participation for environmental data sharing
• CopernicuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Earth observation program participation for environmental monitoring
• ICPDR (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in international river basin commissions for water management cooperation
• ECOMET (European Association for Commercial and Meteorological Activities)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean commercial meteorological activities association membership
• KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral cooperation with Dutch meteorological institute on research and development
• SHMÚ (Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral cooperation with Slovak hydrometeorological institute on regional forecasting and monitoring
• Météo-FrancemajorTechnology or IntegrationCooperation with French meteorological service on weather modeling and forecasting
• IMGW (Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, Poland)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral cooperation with Polish institute on meteorology and water management
• Czech Academy of SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with institutes including Ústav fyziky atmosféry, CzechGlobe, Ústav informatiky, and others on research projects
• Charles University PraguemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with Katedra fyziky atmosféry, Matematicko-fyzikální fakulta, and Centrum pro otázky životního prostředí
• Ministerstvo životního prostředí (Ministry of Environment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government ministry providing support and oversight for environmental monitoring activities
• Ministry of Agriculture (MZe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry support for agricultural meteorology and hydrology services

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik (ZAMG / GeoSphere Austria): Austria's national meteorological and geodynamics service; comparable in mandate (forecasting, climate, hydrology cooperation) and Central European regional scope.
• Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD): Germany's national meteorological service operating weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and aviation services; an ACCORD/ALADIN partner with a closely matched mandate, though much larger scale.
• Instytut Meteorologii i Gospodarki Wodnej (IMGW-PIB): Poland's national meteorological and water management institute; a direct peer via bilateral cooperation, with overlapping hydrology + air quality responsibilities across a neighboring Central European jurisdiction.
• Météo-France: France's national meteorological service and a key CHMI partner on weather modelling; operates the same forecasting, warning, and climate-monitoring functions with a much larger international and commercial footprint.
• Slovenský hydrometeorologický ústav (SHMÚ): Slovakia's national hydrometeorological service with an essentially identical mandate (meteorology, hydrology, air quality) and bilateral CHMI cooperation; directly comparable in scope, scale, and statutory role.
• Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut (KNMI): Dutch national meteorological institute and named CHMI bilateral partner; comparable in operating model (government institute, weather/climate/air quality mandate) with a stronger commercial services arm.

Broad incumbents

• Met Office (UK): UK's national meteorological service and a much larger incumbent; broader portfolio (commercial weather services, supercomputing, climate research) makes it a benchmark rather than a strict competitor to CHMI.
• NOAA: U.S. federal agency encompassing national weather, climate, and ocean services (NWS); comparable in statutory mandate and scale but vastly larger and broader in scope than CHMI.

Others

• EUMETSAT: European satellite meteorology organisation providing geostationary satellite data that CHMI uses for forecasting; an enabling infrastructure partner rather than a service competitor.
• ECMWF: Intergovernmental medium-range forecasting organization that CHMI both contributes to and consumes data from; a strategic infrastructure provider rather than a competitor, but highly comparable in scientific agenda.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CHMUCHMI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CHMU
• Facebookfacebook.com/chmi.cz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cesky-hydrometeorologicky-ustav
• Instagraminstagram.com/chmicz

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Český hydrometeorologický ústav