An 1879 Weather Forecast from the War Department (the Farmers’ Bulletin) A weather forecast issued by the Weather Bureau on Febru19th Century Opinion of the Weather Bureau & the Emerging Science of Meteorology Note that the phrase “Weather Bureau” doesn’t appear in the publication letterhead since the name wasn’t officially used until 1891. The following image shows a weather forecast published in 1879 by the War Department in a document called the Farmers’ Bulletin. Excerpt from the Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg PA, July 1, 1891) 19th Century weather map from the War Department in 1873 Clearly, the establishment of a weather forecasting agency 145 years ago required enormous faith in the emerging science of meteorology and its potential for significant advancement in the years to come. In 1870, a forecast typically sounded something like this, “Through tomorrow, probably fair with a fresh breeze,” a stark contrast to the 7 to 10 day forecasts of 2015. The forecasting agency was officially named the United States Weather Bureau.Ītmospheric prediction was in its infancy and forecasts were vaguely worded, typically covering a large area for a mere 24-hour period. On that day, the agency was changed from a military service to a civilian service, and all of the meteorological, telegraphic, and personnel assets were transferred from the Department of War to the Department of Agriculture. ![]() The transfer went into effect on July 1, 1891. After consideration by Congress, the act was passed and subsequently signed into law by President Harrison on October 1, 1890. However, President Benjamin Harrison recommended that the agency be transferred from the War Department to the Department of Agriculture. The very first meteorological reports were taken at 24 stations at 7:35 am on Novemand successfully transmitted by telegraph to the Signal Service central office in Washington, D.C.įor 20 years, the weather agency operated as a meteorological division of the Signal Service. Army Signal Service within the Department of War and given the name The Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce. On March 29, 1870, the new weather forecasting service was officially assigned to the U.S. ![]() The Weather Bureau, now known as the National Weather Service, was established on Februby the 41 st United States Congress and signed by President Ulysses S.
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