potential energy of thunderstorms. From this information and analysis a flight or area forecast would be made.

            The forecast area for the Seattle office was SEA/PDX and SEA/BIL. The Minneapolis office carried out the same procedure for their forecast area BIL/CHI and later added CHI/NYC, CHI/DCA and CHI/MIA. Aircraft used during this period were unpressurized DC-3s, DC-4s and Martin 202s, with operating altitudes below 12,000 feet. Forecasts gave a description of weather systems, area weather, icing, and turbulence and terminal conditions. Pilots were briefed on conditions affecting their flight, and discussions were held with dispatchers on current and forecast conditions.

            In 1946 Northwest had rapid expansion of routes to Alaska and the Orient which affected the meteorology department in Seattle. This required expanding coverage of the Pacific from 125’W to 135’E and 20’N to 60’N. In those early days there were no satellites nor pilot reports across the Pacific. There were two United States stationary weather reporting ships for rescue operations if needed. One was midway between San Francisco and Honolulu and the other about 800 miles west of Portland, OR. The Canadians posted a ship about midway between Vancouver and Cold Bay, Alaska. These ships were discontinued in the early 1960s. There were a few merchant ships that reported the weather every six hours until the maritime union contract disallowed taking observations at night.

            In late 1946 and early 1947 flights began between Seattle and Anchorage, and Minneapolis to Anchorage with DC-4s. The Seattle office forecast the outside route and Minneapolis did the inside route. By mid 1947 service was extended to the Orient with a fuel stop at Shemya at the end of the Aleutian chain of islands between Anchorage and Tokyo. A Tokyo meteorology office was established which provided weather service for the area west of Shemya.

            December 1948 was the beginning of service to Honolulu from Seattle via Portland with DC-4 aircraft, three times a week. The route started flying the great circle. As experience was gained, pressure pattern flying was done, and then minimal time tracks were used. Altitudes increased as we went from DC- 4s below 12,000 feet to DC-6, DC-7 and Boeing 377 and then to the jets in the 30,000-foot range.

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