Broadcast Weather Reports

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 44, 15 May 1931, Page 4

Broadcast Weather Reports

Their Meaning Explained EH have received: several requests lately for a publishéd: explanation of the significance of thé létters used in the daily broadcast ‘weather report, A comprehensive article:by Dr. Kidson, Government Meteorologist; on .the method of preparing’such reports was published in the "Radio Record" dated November 30, 1930, and-for the benefit of new: readers a. portion ‘of this is reproduced below :- HE accompanying table is a. portion of an, extended -weather report which is’ broadcast by: 2YA dur-

ing the 7 o’clock session. In the first column is given the direction of the wind, followed ' by its" ‘force reckone‘l on the Beaufort Scale. . This, translated into velocity in‘. miles ' per hour at 16 feet above ground is 0, calm, 0-1 m.p.h., 1, light air; 2-8, slight breeze, 4-7; 3, gentle breeze 8-11; 4, moderate _ breeze, "12-16: 5, fresh breeze, 17-2) 6, strong breeze 22:27; 7,. high wind, 28-33; 8, gale, 34-40; 9; strong gaie, 41-48; 10, whole gale; 49-56 ; 11, storm 57-65; 12, hurricane. "The next column ‘is the barometric pressure in inches. of mereury while the temperature is degrees fahrenheit, or the ordinary. temperature as we know’ it. The fourth column deals with the weather, and for: this the following legend is used :- *Weather.--B., blue. sky; B.C., blue sky and detached clouds; C., cloudy; O., overcast; G.,° gloomy, .dull,. U.. ugly, threatening; R.,. continuous | or steady rain; -S., snow; D., drizzle; P., passing showers; H., hail; Q., squally; 'L., lightning; T., thunder; F., fog; M., mist; Z., haze. : aN fifth column ean added, the matter fot which is broadcast, ‘This refers to sea conditions, such as Calm, light swell, or rough, as__the -case LLY be. This, however, is quite evident, and needs no explanation. There is ' one point which sometimes confuses listeners, that is’ when ‘thé letter ‘C’ ‘ (denoting cloudy weather) is followed by particulats of the sea.. Some listeners mistake’ the letter "© for the word ‘seay’ There is no connection, and it is only by chance that the words come _ together. a

Station. Wind: P Tem Patea NW_ 5 29.81 58 WVanganui W 5 20.82. 61 # Foxton W 8 57 , C Campbell NB 29.65 60 Westport SW 1 29.75 _ 52 BCP Dunedin NB 29.87 49 C Bluff N 1 "29.54 49 (D" Alexandra Not received. Puyse-_ gur Pt; N: 4 29.49 47 Jp Cape_ Maria VD W 4 30.64 770: ~n Opotiki SW 2 20.90 Taupo NW 2 54 gc Dast Cape W 3 29.82 80