Weather services in society: an evolution of usage and engagement over the past 50 years

Over the past five decades, interaction between society and meteorological services has undergone profound transformations, driven by digitalization, evolving user expectations, and broader societal challenges. We will examine four different aspects
1. Growth in use : the explosive growth in the use of weather websites and apps since the early 2000s, user numbers have soared, with recent figures showing that more than 2 billion people regularly access weather applications. This widespread adoption illustrates a deepening engagement between the public and meteorological data and  an increased dependency on weather information in daily life.

2. Commercial evolution; the commercial weather services market has expanded significantly. Using data from sources such as PRIMET and other global market analyses, we trace the rising financial value attributed to weather services. This growth reflects a corresponding increase in the portion of societal income dedicated to weather-related information and tools, signaling weather's growing role in decision-making across economic sectors. Such trends underline the economic engagement of society with meteorological services.

3. Meteorologist profession: we review  the increase in the number of professional meteorologists in many countries, responding to both market demand and the growing complexity of services offered, through data from  Organizations like the European Meteorological Society (EMS) , National Hydrometeorological Services (NHMS) and others.

4. Societal expectations : We look at some contemporary analyses of emerging dominant public demands , such as accuracy of forecasts, data presentation, entertainment value , measurable economic value, and climate risk management. 
These demands reflect not just a need for reliable forecasts, but also a desire for content that is engaging, actionable, and relevant in the context of a changing climate. The intersection of these trends illustrates a complex, dynamic relationship between meteorological services and the societies they serve—one that continues to evolve as technology and climate challenges advance.