Q&A · 2:18:46-2:19:06

How Royal Navy ships forecast weather at sea

Radio forecasts were supplemented by shipboard instruments and specialists, especially where flying operations made local weather critical.

Question

How did Royal Navy ships receive weather reports during World War II?

Short answer

They used radio broadcasts and, on larger ships, their own instruments and forecasters, with carriers especially dependent on local forecasts.

Notes

The fleet received broadcast forecasts, but larger ships also carried instruments and personnel able to assess local conditions. Aircraft carriers had a particularly strong need for this organic forecasting because wind, visibility, and sea state directly governed flight operations.