National Weatherperson's Day, also known as National Weatherman's Day, is observed on February 5 primarily in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. It recognizes individuals in the fields of
meteorology
Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences (which include atmospheric chemistry and physics) with a major focus on weather forecasting. The study of meteorology dates back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did no ...
,
weather forecasting
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the conditions of the atmosphere for a given location and time. People have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia and formally since the 19th cent ...
and broadcast meteorology, as well as volunteer storm spotters and observers. It is observed on the birthday of
John Jeffries
John Jeffries (5 February 1744 – 16 September 1819) was an American physician, scientist, and military surgeon with the British Army in Nova Scotia and New York during the American Revolution. He is best known for accompanying French invent ...
, one of the United States' first weather observers who took daily measurements starting in 1774, born on February 5, 1744.
[http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=ict&storyid=92264&source=0 ]
Jeffries made the first balloon flight over London in 1784 with the purpose of gathering data for a scientific study of the air at high altitudes.
References
Unofficial observances
February observances
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