BBC Centenary: 100 years of weather on the BBC
- Published
A copy of the UK weather forecast on 26 March 1923, taken from the UK Met Office's records
Sunday 26 March 2023 marks 100 years since the first dedicated weather bulletin went out live on the BBC.
The weather forecast was read by an announcer at 9:30pm as part of the second General News Bulletin of the day on 2LO, the BBC's first daily radio service, transmitted from Marconi House, London.
News at that time was supplied by an agency, and music drama and "talks" filled the airwaves for only a few hours a day. Weather forecasts were considered important by farmers and coastal fishermen in particular and although the Shipping Forecast had been broadcast on BBC Radio since November 1922, this was the first standalone weather report giving a general forecast for the UK.
The weather forecast was listed in early editions of the Radio Times when the publication began in September 1923; however, the earliest radio broadcast stored in the BBC archive featuring a weather report is from January 1937.
A BBC radio weather forecast from 16 January 1937
The BBC obtained weather reports from the Met Office and the forecast for Monday 26 March 1923 was:
Pressure continues high on the Continent and there is a deep depression north of the Azores which however does not appear likely to approach very near to the British Isles during the next 24 hours. The Weather will be mainly fair, and rather warm during the day with southeasterly to southerly winds, fresh to strong at times on our Western Coasts.
Taken from the BBC's written archives: Monday 26 March 1923 was the inception of daily weather forecasts
A century later it's no surprise that things have moved on a great deal.
The BBC has its own dedicated weather team where broadcast meteorologists are briefed by forecasters on the latest weather developments around the world. Presenters and producers work together to create close to 100 forecasts a day on TV, radio and online with information on breaking weather and climate stories also being delivered on the BBC's social media and digital platforms.
Tomasz Schafernaker presents the weather live from a BBC News TV studio
With information never any further away than your mobile phone, BBC Weather lends itself well to the digital age.
Users are able to stay in touch with the latest hourly forecast on the BBC Weather app, engage with presenters on social media, and crowd source and share their photos of weather around the UK through BBC Weather Watchers.
As technology evolves and audiences continue their journey through the new digital narrative, the weather forecast remains a national treasure.