The role of GIS at meteorological institutes has long been limited, partly because of the specific data formats used and partly because of already embraced "GIS-like" applications. An interesting role seems to be reserved for GIS in the area of data management, thus improving the accessibility of huge amounts of valuable meteorological data sets for a wide range of users. The knowledge and experience that has been gained in the GIS community can help a meteorological institute to, for example, manage data by adopting metadata standards and distribute data by applying Internet GIS technology. At our institute, GIS is discerned as a catalyst tool that helps to develop the data infrastructure.