Radio Weather Forecasts

The 14th November 2002 was the 80th anniversary of the beginning of daily radio broadcasting by the BBC, but also of the first radio weather forecast.

The first weather forecast broadcast on radio was a script prepared by the Met Office and read by an announcer on November 14, 1922, from Marconi House, London. From March 26, 1923, this became a daily service.

From the beginning, farmers found the broadcasts very important. In 1924, the first Shipping Forecast was broadcast and the sailing fraternity had access to a much more user-friendly and complete forecast than the Morse Code gale-warning broadcasts that had covered the North Atlantic area from 1911.

In 1932, the BBC's Broadcasting House opened to meet the growing public demand for programmes, and with the outbreak of war in 1939, radio broadcasting became even more important. By 1955 there were eight major broadcasts a day.

Listen to an example of an early radio weather broadcast transmitted on 1st October 1956 - part of the West Regional News Bulletin. Get help with playing this clip.

The London Weather Centre opened in 1959 assumed responsibility for national radio weather broadcasts. Radio forecasters were chosen by BBC audition from the forecasters at the London Weather Centre.

Thirteen years later, in 1972, Michael Fish started producing radio weather forecasts from the London Weather Centre. Radio forecasts were only a small part of his duties and had to fit in around his main duties as a meteorologist providing forecasts for oil exploration, gas and electricity supplies, transport and the press. Forecast charts were drawn up by hand and from scratch. Radio forecasts were almost always read from a script and were more formal than those today.

In 1991, the BBC Weather Centre opened at Television Centre. This took over the responsibility for all national forecasts, including the radio forecasts. Today, over 50 radio broadcasts come from the radio studio at the Weather Centre each week - mainly to Radio 4, but also to Radio 2, 6 Music, Radio 1 and Radio 5 Live.

Preparing a Radio Forecast

When forecasters prepare for their radio forecasts today, they have much more information at their finger tips than when Michael Fish first started. Aside from that he hasn't seen many changes (perhaps not even the headphones!).

When training new forecasters in radio broadcasting, he recommends that they spend an hour producing a scripted forecast for a two minute radio broadcast, and it's not easy to cover the whole of the UK in this time with no graphics to help.

The forecaster has confirmed the duration of the broadcast with the radio network before they go into the studio. They automatically hear the network to whom they are contributing and set their countdown clock. Once they receive the 'handover' from the presenter they start the clock and when it reaches zero they know their time is up.

Radio forecasts still play a very important role in keeping people informed of current and future weather. "Radio is the only medium (by which) to receive weather information when driving, so it is vital, especially in severe weather" says Michael Fish.

The BBC Weather Centre upgraded its radio studio and facilities in 2003 and now has the ability to record and upload audio content to any BBC platform or customer.