Why Flint’s Weatherball Is One of the Rarest Sights in the U.S.

The Weatherball has been part of Flint’s skyline for nearly 70 years. Installed in 1956 by Citizens Bank, the glowing landmark has changed ownership and gone through a few makeovers over the decades, but it continues to shine over Vehicle City.

How Rare is Flint's Iconic Weatherball?

What many people may not realize is just how rare Flint’s Weatherball has become. Across the entire United States, only nine weatherballs or weather beacons are still operating today. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, there were dozens of them lighting up city skylines from coast to coast.

READ MORE: Flint's Weatherball Will Glow Orange For The First Time

Weather beacons, sometimes called weatherballs, were old-school forecast tools. Using glowing colors or flashing lights mounted on tall buildings, they signaled what kind of weather was on the way. According to handwiki.org, they were part public service and part advertising, long before weather apps, radar maps, or even widespread television forecasts. Many became iconic landmarks that could be seen from miles away.

Where Was The First Weatherball Installed?

The idea traces back to advertising innovator Douglas Leigh according to Grokipedia​. He originally wanted to place a weather beacon atop the Empire State Building, but energy conservation efforts during World War II delayed the project. Eight years after the war ended, the first weatherball finally lit up the night sky over Minneapolis in 1949, sparking a nationwide trend. During the peak popularity there were as many as 84 weather beacons and weatherballs operating across the country.

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Over time, most of those beacons were dismantled or decommissioned as technology evolved. Today, just 9 remain in operation nationwide which are listed below. Two of them are right here in Michigan. In addition to Flint’s Weatherball downtown, WZZM-TV Channel 13 in Grand Rapids also continues to operate a functioning weatherball, keeping a glowing piece of broadcast and weather history alive in the Great Lakes State.