Data security is not just a modern issue. The BBC stopped its daily weather forecasts as soon as the second world war started. They had been a feature of the radio schedule since 1923 but continuing them would have given vital weather intelligence to the Germans.
In particular, the forecast provided information about when skies would be clear, what winds were blowing and when storms were expected, all of which would be helpful for the Luftwaffe when planning bombing raids.
Some people, particularly farmers, still needed weather forecasts. The Met Office arranged for special coded agricultural forecasts known as Pabulum. These substituted animal names for weather conditions and terms like “Buy” for good weather and “Sell” for bad. For example, “Fat Cow”, meant rain in the morning, improving later.
The restrictions on sharing weather information included railway station announcers. Whereas before the war they could say trains had been delayed or cancelled due to snowfall or leaves on the line, posters advised in rhyme that wartime censors would not permit this type of careless talk:
“In peacetime railways could explain/ When fog or ice held up your train/…, Now think of this, if it’s your fate / To have to meet a train that’s late, / Railways aren’t allowed to say /What delayed the trains to-day.”
