Forecasts for the General Public

The growth in the number of radio stations and the availability of personal radios was an important factor in this increasing awareness. For the general public, and particularly the younger generation, the use of radio as a medium for entertainment and information became very popular and the earlier view of the older generation that forecast mistakes were objects of ridicule became replaced by a realisation that forecasts could be used to make life more comfortable.

Forecast quality and accuracy were largely determined by the quality of the staff in the Divisional Offices and the timeliness and range of observational material. The preparation of forecasts involved three stages, specifically, plotting and analysis of surface (mean sea level) and upper air charts, consideration of possible changes in those charts and determination of likely temperatures, winds, rain and other weather elements during the forecast period.

Divisional Office forecasters had the advantage of advice of CAO surface and upper air analyses and prognoses, the number, variety, comprehensiveness and accuracy of which gradually improved. However these CAO advices were advisory in nature and Divisional Office forecasters used their discretion in deciding whether the advice they provided should be accepted or rejected.

Bureau of Meteorology