History of Weather forecasting in Timeline

Weather forecasting uses science and technology to predict atmospheric conditions for specific locations and times. Informal weather predictions have existed for millennia, while formal methods emerged in the 19th century. Modern forecasting involves collecting data on temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind using weather stations, satellites, and radar. This data feeds into complex computer models that simulate the atmosphere's behavior. Forecasters analyze model outputs and incorporate their knowledge of local weather patterns to create predictions. These forecasts are used in many sectors such as agriculture, transportation, and disaster preparedness.

1911: Met Office Issues First Marine Weather Forecasts

In 1911, the Met Office began issuing the first marine weather forecasts via radio transmission, including gale and storm warnings for areas around Great Britain.

1922: Publication of "Weather Prediction By Numerical Process"

In 1922, Lewis Fry Richardson published "Weather Prediction By Numerical Process", detailing how numerical prediction solutions could be found by neglecting small terms in fluid dynamics equations and using a finite differencing scheme.

Weather Prediction by Numerical Process (Cambridge Mathematical Library)

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1925: First Public Radio Forecasts in the United States

In 1925, Edward B. "E.B." Rideout made the first public radio weather forecasts in the United States on WEEI, the Edison Electric Illuminating station in Boston.

1931: WBZ Weather Forecasts Begin

In 1931, G. Harold Noyes, from the U.S. Weather Bureau, started weather forecasting on WBZ.

November 1936: BBC Experimentally Broadcasts Televised Weather Forecasts

In November 1936, the BBC experimentally broadcast the world's first televised weather forecasts, which included the use of weather maps.

1940: Experimental Television Forecasts in Cincinnati

In either 1940 or 1947, James C. Fidler made experimental television weather forecasts in Cincinnati on the DuMont Television Network.

1947: Experimental Television Forecasts in Cincinnati

In either 1940 or 1947, James C. Fidler made experimental television weather forecasts in Cincinnati on the DuMont Television Network.

1949: Practical Televised Weather Forecasts by BBC

In 1949, after World War II, the BBC put televised weather forecasts into practice.

1954: First Televised Weather Forecast with On-Screen Map

In 1954, George Cowling gave the first televised weather forecast while being televised in front of a map.

1955: Practical Use of Numerical Weather Prediction Begins

In 1955, practical use of numerical weather prediction began, spurred by the development of programmable electronic computers, marking a significant milestone in weather forecasting technology.

1963: Edward Lorenz Proposes Limits to Long-Range Forecasts

In 1963, Edward Lorenz proposed that long-range forecasts (two weeks or more) cannot definitively predict the atmosphere's state due to the chaotic nature of fluid dynamics equations, where small errors in initial values double roughly every five days.

1982: Launch of The Weather Channel (TWC)

In 1982, John Coleman partnered with Frank Batten to launch The Weather Channel (TWC), a 24-hour cable network devoted to national and local weather reports.

2009: US Spending on Weather Forecasting

In 2009, the US spent approximately $5.8 billion on weather forecasting, which produced benefits estimated at six times that amount.

2022: Emergence of AI Weather Models

In 2022, several artificial intelligence weather models emerged, including Huawei's Pangu-Weather model, Google's GraphCast, WindBorne's WeatherMesh model, and Nvidia's FourCastNet.

2023: Development of AI Weather Models

In 2022–2023, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts' Artificial Intelligence/Integrated Forecasting System, or AIFS appeared.

2024: AIFS Publishes Real-Time Forecasts

In 2024, AIFS started publishing real-time forecasts, demonstrating skill at predicting hurricane tracks, but performing lower on the intensity changes of such storms relative to physics-based models.

2024: Google's DeepMind AI Research Laboratories Published a Paper in Nature to Describe GenCast

In 2024, Google's DeepMind AI research laboratories published a paper in Nature to describe their machine-learning model, called GenCast, that is expected to produce more accurate forecasts than the best traditional weather forecasting systems.