BBC Weather facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
BBC Weather

Logo used since 2022
Type	BBC department
Industry	Broadcasting
Headquarters	Broadcasting House, London , United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom Rest of the world
Owner	BBC

BBC Weather is a special team at the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). Their job is to create and share weather forecasts with everyone.

On 6 February 2018, BBC Weather changed who gave them their weather information. They switched from the government's Met Office to a company called MeteoGroup. The Met Office had been providing weather data for a very long time – 94 years!

How BBC Weather Started

George Cowling was the first person to present a weather forecast on TV where you could see him, on 11 January 1954.

The very first BBC weather forecast was for ships at sea. It was broadcast on the radio on 14 November 1922. The first daily weather forecast for everyone else came out on 26 March 1923.

In 1936, the BBC tried showing weather maps on TV for the first time. After World War II, this became a regular thing in 1949. Back then, the map filled the whole screen. You would hear someone's voice telling you the weather for the next day.

Cool New Technology for Weather

On 11 January 1954, something new happened. George Cowling gave the first weather forecast where you could actually see the person talking! This meant the presenter stood in front of the map.

In those days, the weather maps were drawn by hand. They were made at the London Weather Centre and then rushed across London. The same person who made the forecast would also present it. These early forecasts weren't always super accurate. In 1959, the London Weather Centre took over making national radio weather forecasts.

In 1962, the Met Office got some new tools: a fax machine and an electronic computer. These helped them make forecasts faster and more accurately.

By 1964, they could even get pictures from satellites! But these pictures weren't very clear. They were printed on paper, and someone had to draw the coastline on them with a felt-tip pen. Things got much better in 1973 when a powerful new computer arrived. This made forecasts twice as accurate as before!

Awesome Graphics for Weather Maps

Michael Fish presenting a weather forecast in 1974.

As computers got better, so did the way weather maps looked. At first, maps were drawn by hand. Then, presenters used magnetic symbols they could stick onto the maps. Later, they used bluescreen technology, which let them stand in front of a green or blue screen and have computer-generated images appear behind them. This gave presenters more control over what they showed.

The early magnetic symbols sometimes didn't stick well. Also, presenters sometimes made spelling mistakes, like writing 'GOF' instead of 'FOG'! But these symbols allowed them to show how the weather would change over time. The symbols were designed so viewers could understand them without needing a guide.

On 18 February 1985, computer graphics were introduced. The basic look of the weather symbols stayed the same. These new forecasts were very popular because they were simple and easy to understand. They even won an award in 1993!

On 2 October 2000, BBC Weather changed again. The old weather symbols mostly stayed, but new ones were added. These new symbols showed things like pollen levels and how much sun there would be. They also started using a more detailed map of Britain, made with satellite data.

Weatherscape XT Graphics (2005–2018)

Alex Deakin presenting a weather forecast in 2013 from New Broadcasting House.

In May 2005, the weather symbols changed again after almost 30 years. This new look was a bit controversial. The flat map was replaced with a 3D globe. Weather conditions were shown using coloured areas. For example, cloudy areas were shown by how bright the map was. Rain and snow were shown by animated blue and white areas. These new graphics were made by a company called Weatherscape XT.

People had different opinions about the new look. Some thought it was more modern and accurate. Others didn't like the brown colour used for the land. There was also a complaint that the way the map was angled made Scotland look much smaller than it really is, while London and the South East looked bigger. This made some people in Scotland feel like the BBC was focusing too much on London. Because of this, the map was changed to look more balanced.

Even with some criticism, the new look won a special award in 2006. The BBC kept making small improvements. In 2006, they added a cool rippling effect to show seas and oceans.

BBC Weather Changes to MeteoGroup

An older BBC Weather logo, used from 2019 to 2023.

On 23 August 2015, the BBC announced a big change. They said they would no longer use the Met Office to provide their weather forecasts. The BBC explained that they had to find the best value for money for people who pay the TV licence fee. They said that the weather presenters on TV would likely stay the same. Also, the BBC would still share important warnings from the Met Office, like severe weather alerts.

After looking at different companies, MeteoGroup was chosen as the new weather provider in August 2016. On 6 February 2018, the BBC started using MeteoGroup's new graphics and features. These included:

• A special "window on the weather" at the start of each forecast, showing the season.
• Green land on the maps.
• High-quality moving graphics that show detailed weather.
• More "realistic mapping" and a "realistic globe." This globe can show different things, from falling snow to areas where you might see the aurora (Northern Lights).
• Forecasts that are easier for people with colour-blindness to understand.
• The ability to zoom in on maps online and on the app to get a more detailed forecast for specific areas.
• A 'chance of precipitation' feature on the app, telling you the likelihood of rain or snow.
• A 'feels like' factor on the app, which tells you how cold it actually feels outside, especially with wind.
• Up to a 7-day forecast on TV and radio.
• Up to 14 days of hourly forecasts for many UK and international places, available online and on the app.

When these changes came out in January 2018, many people shared their thoughts online. Some people were not happy with the new design.

Weather Presenters

Weather presenters still give forecasts for local news shows across the country.

Current Presenters

Former Presenters

Weather Online

The BBC Weather website gives weather forecasts for places in the UK and around the world. It uses animated symbols and looks similar to the TV forecasts. The website first started in 1997.

The website also has special articles about things like sports in different seasons, if it will be a white Christmas, nature, and how weather science works. You can also find world weather, UK outlooks, and weather news.

BBC Weather Apps

On 20 May 2013, the BBC launched the BBC Weather App. You could get it for iOS devices (like iPhones) and Android phones. These apps were designed by Media Applications Technologies and got their weather information from the Met Office.

See also

• Learn more about BBC weather presenters