03/17/2026
Clement Wragge, born in 1852 in England, later moved to Australia and became one of the early pioneers of organized weather forecasting. Serving as a meteorologist in Queensland, he worked to establish systematic weather observations, storm tracking, and public forecasting services. At a time when meteorology was still emerging as a scientific discipline, he championed the idea that weather prediction could help protect communities, particularly in regions prone to cyclones.
Wragge is best remembered for initiating the practice of naming tropical storms in the 1890s. He reportedly drew names from mythology, geography, and politics, making it easier for newspapers and official reports to discuss storms while also capturing public attention. Although his naming system wasn’t widely adopted at the time, it is often recognized as an early influence on the modern standardized naming system used today.
