Producing Radio Forecasts

Have you ever wondered how the BBC Weather Centre produces its radio forecasts?

BBC Weather provides radio weather forecasts for Radio Four, Radio Two, 6 Music, Radio One and Radio Five Live, from the fully digital radio studio at the BBC Weather Centre.

Radio forecasts are done in a self-opt studio from the BBC Weather Centre

The 14th November 2002 was the 80th anniversary of the beginning of daily radio broadcasting by the BBC, but also of the first radio weather forecast.

Radio broadcasts through the years

The first weather forecast broadcast on radio was a script prepared by the Met Office and read by an announcer on November 14, 1922, from Marconi House, London. From March 26, 1923, this became a daily service.

From the beginning, farmers found the broadcasts very important. In 1924, the first Shipping Forecast was broadcast and the sailing fraternity had access to a much more user-friendly and complete forecast than the Morse Code gale-warning broadcasts that had covered the North Atlantic area from 1911.

In 1932, the BBC's Broadcasting House opened to meet the growing public demand for programmes, and with the outbreak of war in 1939, radio broadcasting became even more important. By 1955 there were eight major broadcasts a day.

National radio weather broadcasts

The London Weather Centre opened in 1959 and assumed responsibility for national radio weather broadcasts. Radio forecasters were chosen by BBC audition from the forecasters at the London Weather Centre.

Thirteen years later, in 1972, Michael Fish started producing radio weather forecasts from the London Weather Centre. Radio forecasts were only a small part of his duties and had to fit in around his main duties as a meteorologist providing forecasts for oil exploration, gas and electricity supplies, transport and the press. Forecast charts were drawn up by hand and from scratch. Radio forecasts were almost always read from a script and were more formal than those today.

BBC Weather Centre begins broadcasting

In 1991, the BBC Weather Centre opened at Television Centre. This took over the responsibility for all national forecasts, including the radio forecasts. Today, over 50 radio broadcasts come from the radio studio at the Weather Centre each week - mainly to Radio 4, but also to Radio 2, 6 Music, Radio 1 and Radio 5 Live.

Preparing a radio forecast

Over 50 radio broadcasts come from the Weather Centre each week

When forecasters prepare for their radio forecasts today, they have much more information at their finger tips than when Michael Fish first started.

While there is more information available, the medium and technology of radio has not changed significantly and certain considerations are still taken into account when preparing a script for radio.

John Hammond, Broadcast Meteorologist, says that 'in many ways radio is more challenging than TV.' Radio listeners do not have the benefit of having a weather map to look at to help them visualise weather conditions. 'The trick is is to paint a weather picture with words - not easy with so much variety across the UK,' says John.

Radio forecasts still play a very important role in keeping people informed of current and future weather - particularly for people driving in their cars - as this may be the only medium they use to get their weather information.

Like his colleagues, John Hammond, considers the context of where and when people will be listening to the radio and says: ' the best way to keep the listener's ear is to keep things clear and logical.'

Studio operation

Before the forecaster goes into the studio, the duration of the broadcast is confirmed in advance with the radio network. They automatically hear the network to whom they are contributing and set their countdown clock. Once they receive the 'handover' from the presenter they start the clock and when it reaches zero they know their time is up.

The BBC Weather Centre upgraded its radio studio and facilities in 2003 and now has the ability to record and upload audio content to any BBC platform or customer.