Collection MS 283 - Meteorological Office Data

George K. Symons (1838-1900) was an English meteorologist originally employed by the meteorological department (founded 1854) of the Board of Trade, which was the forerunner of the Meteorological Office. When Symons left this position he and a group of volunteers began to carry out surveys into the particulars of rainfall patterns throughout Britain. This led to the publication of an annual rainfall survey, known as Symons's British Rainfall based on information recorded by observers around the country. By the time of his death data was being collected from over 3,000 sites. Upon his death the publication continued as British Rainfall under other editors. From 1919 the volumes were published by the Meteorological Office (by then a part of the Air Ministry). British Rainfall was discontinued following the publication of the volume for 1968. Thereafter separate volumes were produced with one detailing rainfall and the other detailing snowfall (which had previously been covered by a small section in British Rainfall). Ultimately, publication of all of the surveys was discontinued as a cost cutting measure. The Thunderstorm Census Organisation was founded by S. Morris Bower in 1924, but following his death it became a part of the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation in 1984.