When I was a little kid, I used to really like the weather forecasts with the maps. And during the commercial break, they’d show a view of the radar (probably mostly if storms were in the viewing area). The announcer would say “this is a current view of SkyTower radar, a complete forecast coming up on the 5:00 news.”

There would be music in the background that sounded like “dun dun dunnnn” and that would scare me, along with the little SkyTower icon in the corner.

Before the weather forecast of the news, the announcer would say that “Roy Leep’s weather forecast is certified by the American Meterological Society.” Or whoever the meteorologist on that segment happened to be.

But as a kid I used to say it was “the ‘Merican meteor society!” 🤣

When I’d visit my grandparents, they had the Weather Channel and of course back then they played jazz music a lot on it during the local forecasts. And I’d dance to the music , and remember all the icons that would be on the forecasts.

Ah, yes, those are indeed nice memories !

I'm old enough to remember weather forecast map chalkboards. The announcer would draw the map with chalk on air.

Yeah that’s before my time I think. I can remember the storm paths though with orange hurricane icon that I called a chopper blade. Plus the green or orange arrow that could move around the screen to pinpoint what area was talking about. Well, I guess they still do that sometimes.

I do remember the graphics being simpler when I was a kid. Especially when it came to hurricane forecasts and models as well as being able to zoom the radar into streets and such. The radar back then was mostly a blue map image with the radar line spinning around. For larger areas, they’d usually use the satellite imagery. Nowadays the radar can be on any map they need it really.

Weather data and forecasting has definitely come a long way in just the last 15-20 years. But even 50 years ago they could do very well with forecasts with only a fraction of what we have now.

I remember just recently during Hurricane Milton, on Fox 13 for some reason they stopped airing commercials, while all the other stations were still showing. Instead, they showed the radar and an announcer was saying “this is a live look at SkyTower radar. Please stand by, our coverage will continue.”
And it kept repeating during what would be commercial breaks. But that sure reminded me of those old commercial break glimpses of the radar.