In an age where each day is commemorated for a group or a person, why shouldn't a day be dedicated to meteorologists in the U.S.? There is a reason that February 5th is devoted to the weatherperson, and it traces back to before the American Revolution.
February 5th is the day John Jeffries was born in 1745. Jeffries was a physician who lived in Boston for most of his life and was one of the first weather observers. He began taking daily weather observations in the city in 1774, but stopped after March 4, 1776 presumably because of the war.
After the war ended, he traveled to London. In 1784 he made the first balloon weather observation over the city. His balloon ascended to around 9,000 feet where he took the observation with a thermometer (recording temperature), barometer (atmospheric pressure), and hygrometer (moisture content).
Upon his return to the states in 1790, he resumed his daily weather observations until 1816. He passed away in 1819 and is buried in the same burial ground as Paul Revere.
Jeffries' work in the field is a reason the American Meteorological Society has their headquarters in Boston. Their main office is a stone's throw from his burial site.
February 5th is the day John Jeffries was born in 1745. Jeffries was a physician who lived in Boston for most of his life and was one of the first weather observers. He began taking daily weather observations in the city in 1774, but stopped after March 4, 1776 presumably because of the war.
After the war ended, he traveled to London. In 1784 he made the first balloon weather observation over the city. His balloon ascended to around 9,000 feet where he took the observation with a thermometer (recording temperature), barometer (atmospheric pressure), and hygrometer (moisture content).
Upon his return to the states in 1790, he resumed his daily weather observations until 1816. He passed away in 1819 and is buried in the same burial ground as Paul Revere.
Jeffries' work in the field is a reason the American Meteorological Society has their headquarters in Boston. Their main office is a stone's throw from his burial site.
