The Truth Behind "Pressure": The Forecast That Made D-Day
Descrição
Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.
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The Allied invasion of Normandy was scheduled for 5 June 1944 and was postponed for 24 hours because of weather.
This video explains how that decision was made, who made it, and how it differs from the depiction in the film Pressure.
Group Captain James Stagg was appointed Chief Meteorological Officer for Operation Overlord in November 1943.
He coordinated three separate forecasting teams: the Met Office at Dunstable, the Royal Navy team at the Admiralty, and the USAAF team at Bushey Park.
The American forecaster Irving Krick favoured historical analogues. The Norwegian forecaster Sverre Petterssen favoured frontal analysis. Their disagreement over the early June forecasts is central to the film, which presents the conflict as Stagg versus Krick.
The video also covers the German position.
Chief meteorologist Walter Stobbe in Paris lacked Atlantic observations because Allied naval patrols and the North Atlantic weather war had denied Germany regular reports. German attempts to collect data included manned stations in Greenland, such as Operation Holzauge, and the automatic Station Kurt in Labrador. Without upstream data, Stobbe could not identify the brief improvement on 6 June.
On 3 June, observations from Blacksod in County Mayo, reported by Maureen Flavin, showed a rapidly falling barometer and an approaching storm.
Stagg briefed General Eisenhower at Southwick House on the night of 3-4 June and forecast strong winds, low cloud and heavy seas for the 5th.
Eisenhower postponed the operation. Convoy U2A, already at sea, was recalled.
On the evening of 4-5 June, Stagg and his teams forecast a temporary ridge and improved conditions for the 6th. Eisenhower ordered the invasion to proceed.
Airborne landings began after midnight and seaborne landings followed at dawn on 6 June.
A severe Channel storm on 19 June destroyed the Mulberry harbour at Omaha Beach.
#PressureMovie #JamesStagg #dday
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:00 D-Day Preparations
2:34 Germans in Greenland
4:50 James Stagg
6:54 Irving Crick
8:25 Petterssen vs Crick
9:39 Stagg & Ike
10:37 Irish Weather Stations
11:34 Countdown to D-Day
12:18 Weather Pressure
14:00 Heated Debates
16:07 D-Day Postponed
18:15 A Glimmer of Hope
21:10 "Let's Go"
23:08 D-Day 6 June 1944
Follow me at:
https://www.thehistorychap.com
Podcast: https://www.thehistorychappodcast.com
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham and am a member of the Royal Historical Society and Victorian Military Society.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)
Get My Free Weekly Newsletter
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Newsletter
Become A Patron and get exclusive history talks
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Supporters-club
Make a one-off donation
https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistorychap
The Allied invasion of Normandy was scheduled for 5 June 1944 and was postponed for 24 hours because of weather.
This video explains how that decision was made, who made it, and how it differs from the depiction in the film Pressure.
Group Captain James Stagg was appointed Chief Meteorological Officer for Operation Overlord in November 1943.
He coordinated three separate forecasting teams: the Met Office at Dunstable, the Royal Navy team at the Admiralty, and the USAAF team at Bushey Park.
The American forecaster Irving Krick favoured historical analogues. The Norwegian forecaster Sverre Petterssen favoured frontal analysis. Their disagreement over the early June forecasts is central to the film, which presents the conflict as Stagg versus Krick.
The video also covers the German position.
Chief meteorologist Walter Stobbe in Paris lacked Atlantic observations because Allied naval patrols and the North Atlantic weather war had denied Germany regular reports. German attempts to collect data included manned stations in Greenland, such as Operation Holzauge, and the automatic Station Kurt in Labrador. Without upstream data, Stobbe could not identify the brief improvement on 6 June.
On 3 June, observations from Blacksod in County Mayo, reported by Maureen Flavin, showed a rapidly falling barometer and an approaching storm.
Stagg briefed General Eisenhower at Southwick House on the night of 3-4 June and forecast strong winds, low cloud and heavy seas for the 5th.
Eisenhower postponed the operation. Convoy U2A, already at sea, was recalled.
On the evening of 4-5 June, Stagg and his teams forecast a temporary ridge and improved conditions for the 6th. Eisenhower ordered the invasion to proceed.
Airborne landings began after midnight and seaborne landings followed at dawn on 6 June.
A severe Channel storm on 19 June destroyed the Mulberry harbour at Omaha Beach.
#PressureMovie #JamesStagg #dday
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:00 D-Day Preparations
2:34 Germans in Greenland
4:50 James Stagg
6:54 Irving Crick
8:25 Petterssen vs Crick
9:39 Stagg & Ike
10:37 Irish Weather Stations
11:34 Countdown to D-Day
12:18 Weather Pressure
14:00 Heated Debates
16:07 D-Day Postponed
18:15 A Glimmer of Hope
21:10 "Let's Go"
23:08 D-Day 6 June 1944
Follow me at:
https://www.thehistorychap.com
Podcast: https://www.thehistorychappodcast.com
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham and am a member of the Royal Historical Society and Victorian Military Society.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)
Palavra-chave: meteorologia em manica
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Comentários da comunidade
@Sarah-JaneR32 YouTube · 23/10/2026 · 👍 1
The landings were at a low tide but rising, this was so the beach obstacles could be seen, removed and manoeuvred around, this meant a long run up the beach initially but also that, if wounded, you had to keep going as the tide was coming in. The film was kinda ok, nice video Chris to explain it in more detail. I think the film failed to express that when the 'go' was given there was no way of stopping it.
@GeneralCapstick24 YouTube · 23/10/2026 · 👍 2
Cool video
@AndrewStevenson118-1 YouTube · 23/10/2026
Taking out the German weather ships in the Atlantic helped a lot. Plus I think they got some Enigma stuff from them (bigram tables, wheel settings, even a machine?)
@theotheunis-kaerts9059 YouTube · 23/10/2026
Top notch Chris
@sasapetrovic1084 YouTube · 23/10/2026
Bravo
@AndrewStevenson118-1 YouTube · 23/10/2026
The World at War (the Morning episode) has an interview with the real guy. On YT, somewhere. 🙂
@GeneralCapstick24 YouTube · 23/10/2026 · 👍 3
It’s a great film
@gazza2933 YouTube · 23/10/2026 · 👍 2
Sorry Chris I wasn't impressed with the film "Pressure" However, a huge responsibility for the real Gp Capt Stagg and a brave decision to not go and then go. Thanks for this 👍
@HobieH3 YouTube · 23/10/2026 · 👍 1
Ask Monty. Do the opposite.