There’s a History Channel. And there’s a Weather Channel. Now the Weather Channel is about to launch a new show about how the weather affected historical events.
“When Weather Changed History” is set to premiere Jan. 6 in high definition with an episode about the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. Cold weather on the day of the rocket’s launch contributed to the failure of the notorious O rings, which doomed the mission’s seven crew members, according to the show.
“While most people don’t realize it, weather has had such a dramatic impact on history,” said Janet Johnson, VP of long-form program planning and production at the Weather Channel. “Each program engages viewers through strong drama, action video and stories of personal risk and heroism.”
With this series, history repeats itself. In an unusual scheduling move for the network, it will air original episodes of the series on Sunday night at 9 p.m. and again at 11 p.m. The premiere episode also will be repeated throughout launch week to try to expose more viewers to the series.
Future episodes deal with World War II’s Battle of the Bulge, the evacuation of Dunkirk and Operation Eagle Claw, when the U.S. attempted to rescue hostages being held in Iran in 1980.
Another show looks at the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, drawing parallels to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
The network also is planning episodes on the Dust Bowl of 1935 and the super tornado outbreak of 1974.
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Comments (7)
snowing in california this year.:)
Posted by beatriz | December 15, 2007 11:13 AM
We would like to have a copy of the film shown on When Weather Changed History this evening - Jan 14, 2008 - the Battle of the Bulge issue because my husband was in that battle - can we get a copy, please, we would be happy to pay for it.
Posted by Margie Wyss | January 14, 2008 9:14 PM
I would also like a request to have a copy of this video as my grandpa who just past away was in this and want to give it to my father and show the rest of my family. I will gladly pay for this video.
Posted by William MacArthur | January 21, 2008 6:49 PM
We were thrilled when we watched "When Weather Changed History", the segment on the Battle of the Bulge, because my husband saw his brother in one brief shot. We are not sure what date it was aired but we have tried to watch it twice since and it seems that there were more commercials that blocked some out. We were not able to see his brother again and would very much like to get a copy of the original. Please let us know how we can obtain a copy, DVD if possible. Thank you for this great series. Carolyn and Arthur Robinet, Vero Beach, Florida.
Posted by Carolyn Robinet | February 27, 2008 3:25 PM
Unfair to say that Herbert Hoover promised land to poor people and then turned his back. He was inaugerate 3/29; seven months later crash of 10/29/29. Hoover effected land and water management and that sort of "reclamation" and "reallocation of land"; also cancelled oil leased on gov. land and before he left office in 3/32, signed RELIEF ACT TO UNEMPLOYED and the funding for the WPA (Reconstruction and Finance Act). Since he was offered the Presidency by both parties (including FDR), he was not the cause of any shift from the Republicans to the Democrats and not the cause of harship. In fact by keeping us on the gold standard when 40 other countries (in debt to us) went off, he gave us the means of the prosperity we enjoyed and averted a repeat post war depression. Hoover had no party to defend
Posted by nearandfar | March 11, 2008 8:15 AM
I would like to purchase when weather changed history as seen on the weather channel since my dad was there.
Posted by Marcia Haidle | April 30, 2008 9:23 PM
I would like a copy of the flood of 1927.
Posted by Mr.James Gamble | May 26, 2008 5:44 PM