On this night in science
The first official weather reports
November 1, 1870
On this day in 1870, at the same moment in the morning, observers at weather stations across the United States read their instruments and sent what they saw by telegraph to Washington, D.C. It was the country's first official weather report, gathered from many places at once.
Why it mattered
Seeing the weather in many places at the same time let forecasters notice storms on the move and send warnings to the places ahead of them.
Wonder together
If you could check the weather in one faraway place right now, where would you choose?