The first radio weather forecast
The first British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio transmitter 2LO came to life at 17:33 on 14 November 1922.
Just hours later the script of the very first experimental radio weather forecast was read out by the announcer.
The weather of the 14 November 1922
The forecast gave the weather for the same day and would have given fairly general details similar to Met Office Daily Weather Report.
Calm or light winds with fair periods and rather cold across England. Slightly windier, occasional rain and mild for Scotland and Ireland.
Regular radio forecasts for the public
After the success of the initial radio forecast trials more extensive broadcasts for the public became a daily service on 26 March 1923. The forecasts were especially important to the agricultural and coastal fishing communities.
Attention All Shipping
Now an icon of BBC radio, the first Shipping Forecasts were transmitted by the BBC in 1925. Initially put out on Long Wave they were later moved to the Light Programme to improve reception.
Weather and BBC Television
BBC Television launched on 2 November 1936 and just the next day the first televised weather charts were shown. The charts were accompanied by a spoken description and a short forecast.
Ahead of their time
Although the new television forecasts were very successful only a tiny number of people owned television sets in the 1930's and so the experiment was paused until the broadcast network had enlarged and more people owned televisions.
Regular televised forecasts
By 1949 the BBC network had expanded, as had television ownership. From 29 July 1949 weather charts were shown regularly on BBC television, accompanied by forecast scripts prepared by the Met Office and read by the announcer.
First in vision forecast 7:55pm 11 January 1954
The first TV weathermen were Meteorologists George Cowling and Tom Clifton. The press named them 'Mr Wet and Mr Dry'. Cowling (right) gave the first forecast. He advised that it would be a good day for drying washing and started the tradition of ending with 'thats it from me'.
Simple but effective
The first television forecasters used hand drawn charts pinned to a blackboard. They used a pair of dividers to measure isobar spacing for wind speeds and charcoal sticks to show wind direction, areas of rain and movement of fronts.
Barbara Edwards, first female on-screen weather presenter
Barbara Edwards joined the Met Office in 1957. From 1970 she presented weather reports on BBC radio before becoming the first female television weather presenter in January 1974.
Sadly due to public criticism of her dress sense Edwards returned to radio forecasting in June 1978.
Conveying the core message
With time forecasts became more high tech. From colour television, to magnetic weather symbols, to green screen technology and high definition animated graphics the technology has certainly changed, but the core purpose of the forecast remains the same.
Into the 21st century
Although the BBC now receives weather forecast information from a range of sources and communicates through radio, television and social media channels, their forecasts will always refer to Met Office Weather Warnings when in force.
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