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Weather Flags
Mon Sep 29, 2003
Listen in RealAudio 
Before the days of Internet, television, or even radio weather reports, the U.S. government
used a system of specialized flags to deliver local weather forecasts to folks across the
country. Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton, and you're listening to The Weather Notebook
The first government weather reports in the date back to 1870, and these were sent by
telegraph from Washington, D.C. to post offices around the country, where they were posted in
the front of the buildings. In 1881, these bulletins were replaced by a system of signal
flags that flew above the post office buildings. A large, square flag that was solid white
in color meant clear or pleasant weather was expected, while a solid blue flag indicated that
rain or snow was in the forecast. A flag that was white on top and blue on the bottom was
used for scattered, localized rain or snow showers.
When a black, triangular pennant flew above any of these flags, it meant that warmer weather
was on the way; if it flew below the flag, it indicated cooler temperatures. When a sudden
drop in temperature was predicted, a special "cold wave" flag was used. It was a square white
flag with a black square in the center.
At the end 1886, this system of flags was used in nearly 300 cities and towns across the
country. By the 1930s, however, the rise of radio as a means of communicating weather
forecasts to the public meant the ultimate end of this system of forecast flags.
Thanks to meteorologist Sean Potter for his work on today's story. The Weather Notebook comes
to you through grants from The National Science Foundation, and SubaruDriven by What's Inside.
We are a program of The Mount Washington Observatory, on the web at www.mountwashington.org.
Today's Links
A look back at forecasting and warning
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/cae/comms.htm
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