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Bessie Bergman Paul at the Billings Weather Bureau Office — Bessie Bergman Paul, who worked for the U.S. Weather Bureau from 1944 to 1981, is pictured at an observation desk. Paul began her career during World War II, a time when women were instrumental in filling critical weather observation and forecasting roles left by men who entered the armed forces. She later reflected on her work, stating that she felt she proved women were just as capable of performing these duties as men.

Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Bessie Bergman Paul

From a young age, Bessie Bergman Paul learned about the importance of weather forecasts and observations from her father, a man who worked at an airport. Years later, she put her skills to good use as an employee of the Weather Bureau. Read MoreAboutWomen in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Bessie Bergman Paul »

Charlcia B. Rosenlund, an employee of the U.S. Weather Bureau from 1944 to 1948, operates a theodolite to track a pilot balloon. Her duties, and those of other women who joined the Bureau during WWII, included vital tasks like weather observations, mapping, and radiosonde operation. Rosenlund, whose assignments included locations like Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Fairbanks, Alaska, was one of the many women who helped fill critical roles during the war.

Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Charlcia B. Rosenlund

Charlcia B. Rosenlund reflects on the time she spent working in the wartime Weather Bureau, including her experiences working in the Last Frontier: Alaska. Read MoreAboutWomen in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Charlcia B. Rosenlund »

Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Shirley E. Kodalen Buhmann

Shirley Buhmann shares her story working with the Weather Bureau during World War II and after. Read MoreAboutWomen in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Shirley E. Kodalen Buhmann »

Dorothy Chambers (left) and another Weather Bureau employee plotting weather maps from teletype reports.

Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Dorothy Hurd Chambers

Dorothy Chambers shares her time with the Weather Bureau, including an interesting anecdote about "finding" the Jet Stream. Read MoreAboutWomen in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Dorothy Hurd Chambers »

Grace D. Harding inflating a pilot balloon for observation.

Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Grace D. Harding

Grace D. Harding tells of her time working for the Weather Bureau, including one particular story about a mysterious incendiary device. Read MoreAboutWomen in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Grace D. Harding »

Four female U.S. Weather Bureau employees operate complex teletype machines to rapidly transmit critical weather information across the national weather data network, a vital function during the mid-20th century.

Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Mary J.H. Williams

Mary J.H. Williams tells of her experiences in the wartime Weather Bureau, including the time she flew in the Goodyear blimp. Read MoreAboutWomen in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Mary J.H. Williams »

Women attend a U.S. Weather Bureau training class to learn observation techniques and plotting, stepping into vital meteorological roles during World War II while men served in the armed forces.

Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Charlotte Schmidtke Jones

Charlotte Schmidtke Jones, a woman who spent more than two decades in the Weather Bureau, shares stories of her experiences. Read MoreAboutWomen in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Charlotte Schmidtke Jones »

The National Weather Service and the Evolution of Meteorological Radar

Radar, a technological concept that was first developed over 100 years ago, is a vital part of modern meteorology. Read MoreAboutThe National Weather Service and the Evolution of Meteorological Radar »

Birthday Cake - Celebrating the National Weather Service's 150th Birthday on Feb. 9, 2020

The National Weather Service at 150: A Brief History

The National Weather Service celebrated its 150th Birthday on February 9, 2020. Read MoreAboutThe National Weather Service at 150: A Brief History »

A U.S. Navy Vought SU-1 Corsair biplane (BuNo A8872) from Naval Air Station Anacostia takes meteorological measurements in flight on December 13, 1934. The aircraft carries a meteorograph instrument attached to its starboard wing strut to record atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity. This method of data collection was eventually replaced by radiosonde balloons due to the high cost and operational limitations of manned flights during poor weather conditions.

The Weather Bureau's "Flying Forecasts"

The Weather Bureau inaugurates "flying forecasts" on December 1, 1918, as the aviation industry expands following World War I. Read MoreAboutThe Weather Bureau's "Flying Forecasts" »

National Weather Service Heritage

Protecting Lives and Property for More Than 150 Years

National Weather Service Heritage

Protecting Lives and Property for More Than 150 Years

Our Stories

Content with Time Periods Weather and the War (1942-1945) .