We are accustomed to getting timely storm warnings from the National Weather Service. Have you ever wondered when the FIRST storm warning was issued? Professor Increase Lapham issued the first storm warning in America. He was working for the US Signal Corps, a precursor of the current National Weather Service. Congress had passed a joint resolution requiring the Secretary of War to “take meteorological observations ... and for giving notice of approaching storms”. On November 8, 1870, the Secretary of War, General Myer, requested that Dr. Lapham assume responsibility for the Great Lakes region (with a salary of $167 per month), and Lapham obliged by issuing the first storm warning that same day.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu