Weather forecasts face major disruption next month as Met Office staff join widespread public sector strikes over pay.
The Prospect union said up to 30,000 of its members in key technical and specialist roles would walkout on March 15.
They will join thousands of workers from other unions who have also voted to strike on the day of the budget.
READ MORE: Beloved Brit holiday hotspot unrecognisable as beaches buried in 20inches of snow
Meteorologists and supercomputer operators at the Met Office are among Prospect members taking part in the industrial action.
The Met Office acknowledged its services, which are used by ITV and relied on by the armed forces and emergency services, would be affected.
But the UK’s national weather service assured that it had "robust business continuity plans in place".
Other workers joining the strike include forensic experts at the Metropolitan Police and staff at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency, which is battling Britain’s biggest outbreak of bird flu, also faces disruption with staff joining strike action.
Chemical weapons scientists, health and safety inspectors, coastguard officials and driving examiners are also among specialists taking strike action.
Prospect said strike planning will attempt to avoid “unacceptable” risks to life.
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Britain to be covered in snow as Arctic blast set to bring 13cm
A strike at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, which maintains Britain’s nuclear arsenal, was averted after Prospect accepted a 5% pay offer.
Mike Clancy, Prospect leader, said members have seen their incomes decline by up to 26% over the past 13 years and have had enough.
He said: "Poor pay and declining morale represent an existential threat to the civil service's ability to function. Bills are rocketing and pay is falling ever further behind the private sector leaving our members with no option but to take industrial action.
"We will continue our campaign until the government comes up with a meaningful offer. If it doesn’t do so soon, we may be left with no civil service to protect."
Daily Star previously reported that Britain is set to be covered in snow from an Arctic blast, with the Met Office already recording sub-zero temperatures.
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