Knocking off a record set by the UK’s BBC TV was never going to be a simple task, but for the passionate cloud-gazers at Australia’s The Weather Channel it was a matter of national pride. The record for the largest interactive weather report had been set in March, 2010, when 261 schools across the UK collected temperature readings simultaneously, the results broadcast in a single weather report. Five months later, on August 18, 2010, it was time for the Aussies to attempt to rain on the Brits’ parade.The attempt was three months in the planning, with a special website built for schools to register their interest in taking part and, of course, for them to report their temperature measurements. On the day of the event, excited wannabe record-breakers had to wait until midday (Eastern Standard Time) to begin their temperature taking.
When the moment arrived, thousands of Australian schoolkids and more than a few meteorologists headed outdoors across the enormous continent to take their readings.
Throughout the country readings varied from a low of three degrees Celsius at the aptly-named Snowy Mountains Grammar School in Jindabyne, New South Wales, to a scorching 40 degrees Celsius (and it’s still winter!) at Mutchilba State School near Mareeba in Queensland.
The final count? The Aussies almost doubled the British tally with a grand total of 502 schools for a new Guinness World Record. By succeeding in an event that could well become The Ashes for meteorologists, The Weather Channel, ably assisted by Australian school students, well and truly knocked the BBC off the weather map.
Source - guinnessworldrecords
