Image: Forecast Officer George Cowling in January 1954.
The first weather forecaster to appear in vision, standing before a map, was George Cowling. He made his debut on 11 January 1954 as the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ introduced a new way of presenting the weather, which aimed to stress the continuity of the forecast from one day to the next. Cowling's delivery was a long way from the informal approach taken by today's weather presenters, but he introduced a personal touch when he said tomorrow would be good for drying washing. He also set a precedent, appearing on screen several months before the first newsreader.
All weather forecasters were professional meteorologists, employed by the Met. Office. Cowling - described in the Radio Times as "a 31 year-old Yorkshireman, married and father of a 5-year old son" - shared presenting duties with Tom Clifton. The weathermen used charcoal sticks to draw weather features on two charts, one for today and one for tomorrow's forecast. Cowling and Clifton became popular figures, referred to in the press as "Mr Shower and Mr Shine" and "Mr West and Mr Dry".
George Cowling died in 2009. Weather forecasting today is far more accurate than in 1954 and longer term forecasts are possible. Presentations are aided by satellite imagery and computer technology, but still rely on weather presenters to humanise the bare facts.
Further reading
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Television Weather at 60 - A Celebration
From the first known TV weather forecasts kept at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Archives, to key Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ weather forecasters telling their stories, explore 60 years of forecasting on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TV.
January anniversaries
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The Six Wives of Henry VIII
1 January 1970 -
The Brains Trust
1 January 1941 -
The Archers
1 January 1951 -
Z Cars
2 January 1962 -
Trumpton
3 January 1967 -
Open University
3 January 1971 -
Camberwick Green
3 January 1966 -
Final edition of The Listener published
3 January 1991 -
Gardeners' World
5 January 1968 -
A Question of Sport
5 January 1970 -
Forces Programme
7 January 1940 -
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
10 January 1990 -
First in-vision television weather forecaster
11 January 1954 -
The League of Gentlemen
11 January 1999 -
Goodness Gracious Me
12 January 1998 -
Listen with Mother
16 January 1950 -
Life On Earth
16 January 1979 -
First episode of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Breakfast Time
17 January 1983 -
Blankety Blank
18 January 1979 -
The Week's Good Cause
24 January 1926 -
Under Milk Wood
25 January 1954 -
Television Dancing Club
27 January 1948 -
Desert Island Discs
29 January 1942 -
Newsnight
30 January 1980 -
The State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill
30 January 1965 -
Alas Smith and Jones
31 January 1984