In the Czech lands, meteorology has a tradition of more than two hundred years, which is also borne out by the fact that a continuous series of meteorological information from the Klementinum Observatory in Prague dates back to 1775 and is one of the longest observation series in central Europe. After the constitution of an independent Czechoslovakia (in 1918), a National Meteorological Institute was established in 1919 to serve both economic and scientific purposes. International cooperation was gradually introduced, first of all with neighbouring countries and later in the frame of a broader organization. Our republic is one of the founder countries of the World Meteorological Organization (1951).
Hydrological service on our territory has a long-standing tradition as well - it launched in 1875 and is one of the oldest in Europe. The beginnings of some water-level observations on surface water streams can in fact be traced to much earlier days: certain stations have more than 100-year-long series.
At the end of the 1950s and beginning of the 1960s the Institute became involved in the problems of the environment
The present-day organization of the Institute is based on three independent disciplines covered by the meteorological, hydrological and atmospheric quality protection departments. Their activities are supported by a computer and telecommunication centre and an information and documentary centre and an information and documentary centre. Seven regional offices provide comprehensive services along all of the Institute's activities.
The institute is housed in its own as well as rented buildings. The Head Office and centralized workplaces, including the data processing, telecommunication and technical services, are located at the Institute's own campus at Prague-Komořany. Other properties are situated at Prague-Libuš where aerological and radar workstations, an atmospheric quality laboratory and instrumentation are housed, and at Brno, Ostrava and Ústí nad Labem where the largest branch offices can be found. At the Institute's Head office a centralized library and specialized archives are located.
The Institute is controlled by the Environment Ministry of the Czech Republic.
The charter of CHMI was amended in June 1994 and August 1995 pursuant to a decision adopted by the Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic (MoE CR). The amendment defines the aim, object, and functions of the Institute.
The Czech Hydromoteorological Institute is a central State institute of the Czech Republic in the fields of air quality, hydrology, water quality, climatology, and meteorology.