The Story of the D-Day Forecast: Three Days in June 

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 10 PM
Thursday, Aug. 31, at 3 AM
Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 5 PM

For a few tense days in June 1944, the success of the D-Day military invasion was completely reliant on weather readings taken by a young woman at a remote weather station on Ireland’s west coast. THE STORY OF THE D-DAY FORECAST: THREE DAYS IN JUNE highlights the story of Maureen Sweeney. Featuring a special interview with Sweeney herself at age 96, this documentary provides a living link to a unique moment in history where military might and meteorological analysis collided. 

General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s meticulously planned invasion strategy was thrown off track as the data collected by 21-year-old Sweeney forced him to make one of the most difficult decisions in World War II. Completely unaware of the significance of her work, Sweeney’s readings were the first to identify an impending storm that would lead to the postponement of the invasion. Her readings also pinpointed a short window of opportunity that Eisenhower needed to launch, thereby changing the path of the war. This documentary and features contributions from Susan Eisenhower (granddaughter of General Eisenhower), renowned historian Antony Beevor, D-Day veteran Joe Cattini, and a selection of military experts meteorologists and archive footage, altogether painting an incredible picture of Ireland’s previously unknown role in one of the most pivotal events in world history.