History Of Weather Forecasting

By Author: Room Smith
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While stepping out, should you carry an umbrella or a snow coat; a light cotton outfit, or a warm sweater? Your day most likely begins with the local forecast of the weather in London, Birmingham, or other cities you may travel to. Most of us plan our clothes, outings, or work meetings according to it, so having an accurate forecast is essential. With the advent of technology and the evolution of science, we can predict from the minutest of weather changes to an extended weather forecast.

So back in the time of no weather predicting technology, how did people manage to plan for long journeys, or protect themselves from storms or famines?

Just like how we study clouds or wind speed to make a rough estimation of weather, our ancestors, too, predicted the weather this way. Let us learn more about the history of weather forecasts.

The science of forecasting weather can be traced back roughly to 340 B.C., when a Greek philosopher wrote a book named ...
... Meteorologica that contained information and theories about rain, clouds, storms, and thunder. It is also believed that Chinese astronomers had already made seasonal calendars by 300 B.C. Indians, too, are known to have found records of weather forecasting around the same time.

These methods were based on their observations of weather patterns and meteorological events. These observations were collected and handed down to the next generation who used these observations to generate weather forecasts. However, these were proven unreliable. This trend was followed until the 1800s, after which forecasting was done with the help of the Beaufort scale and the Fitzroy barometer. These devices were primarily used for naval trade. They were the predecessors of current forecasting systems.

The 20th century brought with it numerous variations in technology and in science. Computers replaced older systems and the previously unpredictable London or Nottingham weather could now be predicted very accurately.

Currently, weather forecasting is done with the help of modern equipment that measures exact metrics like wind speed and moisture. These help to predict minor changes in daily weather and warn about hurricanes and storms. To add to this, the television and the Internet help give minute-to-minute updates of the weather.

So, rest assured that you don’t have to spend hours studying the sky; you can simply go online or switch on the television and plan your day according to the weather.