Met Office marks 70 years of forecasts

Observations began at airfield

The Isle of Man Met Office is 70 years old today (Saturday).

Observations began in old farm buildings at the far end of the airfield in May 1946, while Ronaldsway was still a naval air station.

The operation moved into the control tower when it became a civil airport two years later, and scientific forecasts have continued ever since.

An era of written weather outlooks sent to Manx Radio via telex was followed by pre-recorded reports. 

It's thought the daily live broadcasts began as an experiment in 1987, on presenter Stu Lowe's breakfast show.

Met man Adrian Cowin says the service proved popular and developed rapidly: