75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

The 6th June 2019 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Allied Invasion to free western Europe from Nazi Germany. It is often referred to as D-Day – the “D” simply stands for “day”, because the exact date for the invasion was unknown and highly weather dependent. Possibly the most important weather forecast in history was given by meteorologist Captain James Stagg, who later become president of the Royal Meteorological Society in 1959. His involvement was crucial for the operation to proceed on 6th June 1944 marking the beginning of the end of World War II.

Although well known in the meteorological world, his contributions have never been officially recognized in his Scottish hometown Dalkeith until 2019: A plaque will be unveiled outside Dalkeith Library and Arts Centre, 2 White Hart Street, Dalkeith, EH22 1AE at 12.30 pm on Thursday 6th June.

To mark the occasion Caroline Coch, Climate Science Communications Specialist and Prof Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Society, sat down to discuss the meteorology of D-Day and Stagg’s involvement in Eisenhauer’s decision. View the latest RMetS podcast below:
 

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