Getting the Word Out

The Weather Bureau, as does today's National Weather Service, had the obvious function of observing and predicting the weather. Less obvious was its role in developing a great communications system for presenting its findings to the public. Telegraph, signal flags, community kiosks for displaying daily weather maps and forecasts, bicycle messengers, wireless radio, and newspaper forecasts were the methods of disseminating weather information in the past. Today citizens of the United States take it for granted that they can flick a switch or log onto the Internet to observe satellite and radar imagery and obtain up-to-date forecasts and warnings. NOAA Weather radio is available 24 hours a day throughout most of our Nation. This great system is a tribute to the vision, genius, and perseverance of the founders of the Weather Service as well as those who run the great communications gateway of today's National Weather Service.