The evolution of broadcast meteorology goes hand in hand with scientific advances and the method by which information is communicated to the consumer. This is true both with advances in meteorology, and the way that weather information is communicated to the consumer over the airwaves.
Although the transmission of news and even weather information goes all the way back to the telegraph in the mid-19th century, we’ll move ahead to when weather reports were transmitted exclusively.
Radio – Television Era
According to sangamoncountyhistory.org, the first weather report was a test transmitted by “wireless telegraphy” from Illiopolis, Illinois, in April of 1915. The transmission was received across most of the state and was supplied by Clarence Root, a meteorologist and the Director of the U.S. Weather Bureau in Springfield, Illinois.
A forward thinker, Mr. Root had this to say about the future of weather communication: “I believe that wireless will, in the future, be the method of distributing weather forecasts. The plan has never been used before. It is much quicker than the mail. In times of frosts or approaching storms, the information is of inestimable value to farmers and growers.”
The first commercial radio station in the U.S. was KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which launched on November 2, 1920. KDKA broadcast news and weather information that could be heard by the public.
The first commercial radio station in the U.S., (KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was the first to broadcast news and weather information in 1920, Photo Credit – Wikipedia-Public Domain.
During the 1920s, forecasting improvements occurred with the launching of weather balloons from various locations around the nation. Temperature and wind data at different levels of the atmosphere could be combined with the tracking of approaching weather systems. The result was better weather forecasts being communicated to the public.
A New York Times article indicated that the first televised weather report occurred on October 14, 1941, from WNBT in New York. The report was given by a cartoon character “Wooly Lamb”. Since hardly anyone owned a television at that time, only a few could see the report.
After World War II, television rose rapidly to the forefront of communication. Television stations hired meteorologists from the Weather Bureau; many had served in the military or were college professors. The experiment didn’t last long as station directors considered most of the segments too dull.
During the 1950s, the newscast weather segment became more of an afterthought. It was perceived that more entertainment was needed and the TV “weatherman” became more of a character than a scientist. Cartoon characters, crazy stunts, and wild costumes became more of the norm.
Some “entertainers” became household favorites. Willard Scott, who achieved fame on the Today Show, was originally on WRC TV in Washington, D.C. Besides presenting the weather, he played Bozo the Clown and he was the original “Ronald McDonald”. Willard went on to Be the “weatherman on NBC’s Today Show.
As we will see, the weather became a more serious enterprise as the decades wore on. Al Roker eventually took over the “weather reins ” at NBC.
Local TV stations began to hire young females who were dubbed “weathergirls”. The concept quickly caught on and many TV markets across the nation had weathergirls. These women were not meteorologists, that trend would be many years away.
On-air graphics for weather presentations were primitive. Drawing highs, lows, fronts, and current temperatures were often accomplished with black grease markers on Plexiglass. Some weather presenters, with a flair for the arts, would draw plants, flowers, or smiling suns on the map.
Image of a 1979 weathercast with Harry Volkman (using a marker to draw on his map) Photo Credit- Wikipedia Commons-Public Domain
Later, magnetic boards became weather maps. A magnetic weather icon, like snow, would light up and give the impression of “action weather” when placed on the board.
The 1970s brought significant changes to the weather broadcast. Although the graphics stayed primitive, the weather presenter became part of the “news team” and was often forced into situations where they had to talk about other subjects besides the weather.
Despite the slow trends in TV broadcasts, technological advances with the development of computer weather models allowed for better forecasts and they could be extended out to three days. Weather satellites were relaying valuable information from around the globe at a faster pace, too.
Societal changes resulted in more people moving around the country and taking advantage of more leisure time. The demand for weather information expanded rapidly, along with the need for specific information. Receiving weather information on the 6 and 11 o’clock news didn’t seem to be enough. Critical weather warnings for tornadoes, hurricanes, and snowstorms were not being communicated and received in a timely manner.
Increased interaction between what is now called the National Weather Service, private weather services, and local television stations were occurring. A trend back to employing actual meteorologists to deliver weather segments was ramping up. For example, Dr, George Fishbeck (Los Angeles), Bob Ryan, (Washington, D.C.), and George Winterling (Jacksonville, Fla.) became fixtures in their respective markets for decades. The combination of more experienced meteorologists, along with advanced technology, created better-produced weather segments and much better communication of weather information to the public.
The 1970s also featured more women broadcasting the weather segments on local TV stations. A true “pioneer”, June Bacon Bersey was a degreed meteorologist who had worked with the National Meteorological Center and the National Weather Service.
In 1971, she joined WGR TV in Buffalo, New York, as a reporter. In 1972, she became the station’s on-air meteorologist after the previous meteorologist abruptly left the station and she quickly became the station’s chief meteorologist. June Bacon-Bercey was the first woman, as well as the first African-American, to be awarded an AMS (American Meteorological Society) Seal of Approval. She was also the first African-American chief meteorologist for a local TV station in the United States.
A photo of Meteorologist June Bacon Bersey who broke through many “social barriers” in meteorology and in weather broadcasting. Photo Credit- Wikimedia Commons – Public Domain.
Cable TV And The Weather Channel Revolution
The late 1970s featured the rise of national cable television networks, such as CNN, MTV, and ESPN. During that time, John Coleman, a flamboyant weatherman on ABC’s Good Morning America came, up with an idea of a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week cable TV network. John partnered with Landmark Communications to put The Weather Channel on the air. The Weather Channel’s original broadcast occurred on May 2, 1982, and it remains on the air to this day.
The Weather Channel combined the advances in weather technology with the public’s need for more timely and specific weather information. Gone were the hand-drawn map boards of the past. In were “colorgraphics” machines, which could generate computer graphics that were pleasing to the eye. Images created by these machines could be superimposed on a blue or green “chromakey” wall. This technology had been used by some television stations from the late 1970s, but The Weather Channel made good use of all available new technology. The way that weather information was communicated to the public was changed forever.
Many of TWC’s weather presenters were trained meteorologists, and they were supported by teams of meteorologists who produced current and forecast national weather maps. Local forecasts, generated by a Weather Star (Satellite Transponder Addressable Receiver) allowed forecasts produced by the National Weather Service to be sent to each cable system and the consumer could see their local forecast every 8 minutes on the network. I was so fortunate to have been a small part of that story.
An image of Meteorologists Tom Moore and Vivian Brown at The Weather Channel anchor desk in 1989. Image Credit- TWC -YouTube.
Current temperatures, national weather maps, national and local radar, and satellite pictures could be seen at any time of day. Critical weather watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service were instantly featured on a red and white scroll on your television screen.
As the 1980s progressed and transitioned into the 1990’s more coverage of major weather events, like hurricanes, severe weather, and snowstorms featured meteorologists reporting live from the field. In addition, weather technology like Doppler Radar, increased satellite coverage, and more advanced computer models greatly improved forecast accuracy, and forecasts out to five days became more common and they were incorporated into the presentation.
Greatly influenced by the success of The Weather Channel, local TV stations began to rapidly increase their emphasis on weather coverage. There were more weather events on live, more use of advanced technology, and more certified meteorologists on the air.
The Weather Channel also began to use weather “experts” to enhance the coverage that was given by reporters in the field. It began with “hurricane expert” John Hope who became quite popular during TWC’s first decade, TWC later added “experts” for winter weather and severe weather. You now see more experts in the national media during extreme weather events.
Meteorologist Jim Cantore from The Weather Channel became a household name with his energetic live reports at significant weather events. Photo Credit – Wikipedia Commons – Public Domain.
The trend of weather becoming significant news became well-established in the 1990s. The Weather Channel had been covering major weather events in great detail for several years and both local and national media entities followed suit. More and more, local television stations preempted national programming to stay live, using the latest weather technology, to analyze and communicate information. For example, a hook echo on radar, indicating a possible tornado, can be superimposed on a map showing the danger down to a neighborhood level.
Social Progress?
Networks like The Weather Channel and local TV stations began to add more women and many were degreed meteorologists. In the past, women beyond their 40s were rare on local TV but as the 1980s progressed, the trend of seeing women who were past their 40s and even 50s became more accepted.
An excellent example of this was Meteorologist Karen Minton who held the AMS Seal Of Approval, and who I had the pleasure of working with at The Weather Channel. After beginning her broadcasting career in California, Karen moved to Atlanta to work for The Weather Channel from 1984-1986 and then moved on to WSB TV in Atlanta where she was an On-Camera Meteorologist for nearly 33 years until her retirement in 2019. I had the great privilege to attend that event!
A photo of Meteorologist Karen Minton at her WSB TV retirement luncheon in 2019. Karen worked as a Broadcast Meteorologist for WSB in Atlanta, Georgia, for nearly 33 years! Photo Credit – Tom Moore
There is still much more progress that needs to be made regarding diversity in broadcast meteorology with respect to both race and gender. The percentage of female “chief meteorologists” remains low but it has been increasing slightly. For example, Meteorologist Jennifer Valdez (CBS 46 in Atlanta is their chief meteorologist).
Ginger Zee is the chief meteorologist for ABC News. Over the past five years, the number of chief meteorologists at local TV stations has risen from 8 percent to 13 percent.
There is plenty of work to be done to make broadcast meteorology more diverse, however. Of all broadcast meteorologists, only 9 percent are of Black or African American ethnicity, and 7.3% are of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (as of 2021) It was both surprising and disconcerting to find out that both these numbers and a few percentage points lower than they were five years ago!
Digital – AI Communication
Since the 1990s, the number of ways that the public can receive information has exploded. Airwave communication still exists but it appeared to be slowly fading as digital and other means of communication seek to take over.
Digital communication refers to any computer-based technology for communication information such as e-mail, mobile phones, websites, and apps.
Many private weather services distribute information digitally. Now, you can even receive forecasts and weather warnings, via your smartphone apps. There are a number of apps to choose from and many like The Weather Channel and AccuWeather have recorded weather segments that you can access at any time on your phone.
A significant number of local TV stations will cut into regular programs in an attempt to “value add” during severe weather events. This is an attempt to convey vital information to the public while using the latest technology to hone in on the exact location and forecast movements of weather events like tornadoes. This kind of weather information is more specific than what you can obtain on apps and they are hoping to remain relevant.
In 2021 Fox Weather, a high-tech streaming service launched with features that are expected to change the way Americans consume weather news and analysis. Executives at Fox Weather have been pitching the service as live programming right there on your phone.
Fox Weather uses the latest technology to deliver severe weather alerts for tornadoes, thunderstorms, flooding, and other weather conditions. An On-Camera Meteorologist can be seen on your phone delivering current weather information.
Artificial Intelligence is making its way into the weather world. Artificial Intelligence is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings. AI is in its infant stages right now but its influence on the world around us is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.
AI is currently being injected into current weather models to help upgrade forecasts, especially for a specific parameter. Some studies have shown that machine learning-based forecast systems will be able to predict general weather patterns as well as numerical models while using only a fraction of the computing power the models require.
AI has moved into broadcast meteorology, as well. A local television channel in Russia, Svoye TV, has introduced an AI weather presenter. The AI is named Snezhana Tumanove (Russian words for snow and fog)) created through the use of several neural networks, to provide viewers with accurate weather forecasts. China also has plans to expand AI presenters in broadcast media. It remains to be seen how much AI will become dominant in both operational and broadcast meteorology but I think that I know the answer to that already!
A few years ago, I interviewed Meteorologist Maureen McCann who is a Broadcast Meteorologist at News 13 in Orlando, Florida for another article and she had this to say about the future of broadcast meteorology. “I think the future of broadcast meteorology still has to involve a “human aspect”. I really hope that she is right, but we’ll see.
