Weather permitting, today is all about the men and women who analyze, predict and report something everyone is interested in – the weather! It’s National Weatherman’s Day! This annual holiday, celebrated every February 5th, commemorates the birthday of John Jeffries, who was born on this day on 1745. Besides being a scientist and surgeon, Dr. Jeffries is considered to be one of America’s first weather observers. Interestingly, this special day is observed just a few days after the world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, is yanked out of his comfy confines to share his winter prediction with his throngs of fans.
Today’s knowledgeable and dedicated meteorologists also provide life-saving weather warnings during inclement weather. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), warning systems have not only saved lives but continue to improve. For instance, warnings for flash floods have increased from 22 minutes in 1993 to 78 minutes today and tornado warnings have gone from 6 minutes in 1993 to 13 minutes currently.
Although forecasting the weather has come a long way, even with the latest state-of-the-art technology, predicting Mother Nature and what path she may eventually take, can sometimes be a daunting task even for the most knowledgeable weather professional.
Weather-related Resources
- Interested? Learn More About A Career in Meteorology.
- Visit the National Wildlife Federation’s website on Global Warming.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center answers questions on Global Warming.
- Speaking of Global Warming – Visit the Koshland Science Museum for more info.
- Besides current weather, The Weather Channel has everything you ever wanted to know about the weather including top weather-related news, pictures, videos, maps and more.
- National Weather Service
- Send a free National Weatherman's Day e-card.
Tomorrow is National Frozen Yogurt Day.
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