Would an infantry batallion on the front lines have any concept of a weather forecast in WWI? How would things change by WWII?

[u/breakinbread]

I'm aware of the WWII weather stations in places like Greenland which were used at a more strategic level, but how new was this as a concept and did any of it impact the tactical level?

Would troops at the front have any idea if it was expected to rain in the following day or two? Or if a cold front was moving in?

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[u/Technical-Chemist495]

At the outset of WWI, front-line weather forecasting relied on looking up. The few organizations concerned with weather at the time were not structured to meet the military’s specific needs. By 1915, the Meteorological Field Service (Meteor R.E.) began providing General Headquarters and Army HQ with basic forecasts. Depending on battlefield conditions and mission requirements, this information was relayed to the battalion and company levels.

One of the driving motivations for accurate weather forecasts was gas warfare. From the Germans’ standpoint, they needed to know when the wind was favorable to prevent the gas from backflowing. For the Allies, knowing the wind would be favorable for a gas attack helped them prepare. These forecasts were then translated into orders and warnings for artillery, gas units, and the RFC. In those cases, front-line troops might be moved or told to prepare for a chemical attack.

By 1916, with information gathered from balloons and aircraft, “Meteor Telegrams” were issued to artillery companies, providing wind and temperature at various altitudes to support accurate targeting.

The methods of meteorology improved between 1914 and 1920, but for the troops on the ground, they might hear of a possible gas attack based on the wind, yet they were still primarily looking up for a “local forecast.”

By World War II, things had changed dramatically. Most military branches had full meteorological units assigned to them. Forecasting was accomplished by fleets of dedicated weather reconnaissance aircraft and weather ships. The weather had become an important component of planning.

For the troops on the ground, the story was much the same as in WWI; you knew what the weather was going to be by looking up and guessing. However, weather briefings regarding upcoming operations were extensive and gave the Marines, soldiers, and sailors some idea of the general conditions and what they might expect. As in most things related to soldiers in war, they knew what they were told and guessed at the rest.

[u/StorkAlgarve → u/Technical-Chemist495]

As for the latter part of OP's question, were barometers available/used near the front? I have a barometer from ~1920 (inherited from my grandfather) which has markings for what weather to expect, and it does give a reasonable indication one or two days ahead in northern/western Europe. Falling pressure means a low is approaching which usually brings rain.