Presidents and their close relationship with weather through the years [Video]

In our nation’s infancy, the founding fathers knew just how important weather was to our fledgling country. The first handful of presidents were weather observers, with many of them owning thermometers, barometers, and other recording instruments.

After all, we heavily relied on agriculture back during the first years of the United States. And now, more than 200 years later, the weather continues to play a pivotal role when it comes to the highest office in the land. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting connections.

THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS THE “FATHER OF WEATHER OBSERVERS”

You’d be hard-pressed to find meteorological observations from the late 1700s, but there is one source that was fairly consistent: Thomas Jefferson’s weather diary. While Jefferson saw it as his duty, he also appeared to enjoy taking weather observations. In fact, he and President James Madison were known to correspond over the climate.

“My method is to make two observations a day, the one as early as possible …