Humanity has always sought to predict the weather. For thousands of years, forecasting was limited to observing cloud shapes, animal behavior, and seasonal folklore. Today, we run massive numerical models on supercomputers, predicting precipitation patterns to within a few hundred meters.
The Invention of the Barometer and Early Science
The scientific era of meteorology began in the 17th century with the invention of the barometer by Evangelista Torricelli. Proving that air had weight allowed scientists to link atmospheric pressure changes to weather systems, laying the groundwork for the first systematic storm warning networks.
The Modern Era of Supercomputing and Radar
In the 20th century, the development of weather satellites and Doppler radar revolutionized weather forecasting. Today, meteorological agencies ingest billions of observations into numerical models. Keeping track of local forecasts using modern utilities like UK Weather brings this supercomputing power straight to your phone.
Experience the evolution of forecasting science on your device. Download the UK Weather app to access live rain radar maps, wind speed predictions, and severe weather alerts.
