Forecasts for the General Public (continued)

Forecasts were issued in the early morning, and revised versions were issued at other times during the day. In preparing weather forecasts it was necessary for forecasters to consider the smaller scale features of the atmosphere including land and sea-breezes, orographic effects and the atmospheric processes leading to the formation of fogs, frosts, thunderstorms, precipitation (including hail), duststorms and gales. Forecasts of minimum and maximum temperatures required assessment of the amount of cloud cover and the wind speed.

Another important consideration in preparing weather forecasts was the wording of the forecasts. It was necessary to use words easily understood by the general public.

A growing demand for weather forecasts required Divisional Offices to prepare detailed forecasts for an increased number of districts within their States in addition to those for the capital and other cities.

At our analysts' conference in the Warren years (see Chapter 1) we had discussed in considerable detail the stages in the preparation of weather forecasts. In organising the conference we had taken great care to involve forecasters from all Divisional Offices and some major field offices in addition to Central Office staff. Len Dwyer did much to encourage close liaison between Central, Divisional and field office staff during his term as Director.

Bureau of Meteorology