# Calling the Weather and Time **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421 "2007-05-09T17:16:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hekk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hekk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hekk)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/1 "2007-05-09T17:16:18Z")
Inspired by [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=419971) thread on old phone exchange names… In Milwaukee, one can call the time lady(err… on redial it seems to be a man now) by dialing TIme 4-1414. Also, the local weather forecast is available by calling WEather 6-1212. Are these remnants of times past still up and running in other cities? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/2 "2007-05-09T17:37:30Z")
In Boston, 1-617-637-any 4 numbers gets you time and temperature. I can’t get 63 or 637 to mean anything meaningful though. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/3 "2007-05-09T17:42:06Z")
In Toledo, Ohio you used to be able to dial 936- (and any four numbers) to get the time and temp. Now it’s 936-1212. I still think it’t the same guy from my youth. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/4 "2007-05-09T17:45:05Z")
When I was a teenager, and wanted to stay up all night chatting to boys on the telephone, I would tell a guy to call me at a certain time (say, midnight). Then, I’d call time or weather and wait for the call waiting to beep in. That way, my parents wouldn’t hear the phone ring and I could stay up all night flirting away. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/5 "2007-05-09T18:52:42Z")
I’m 35, and have always been able to call 936-1212 for weather – from Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Virginia. In fact, I called it just now to make sure. 🙂 I definitely remember there being a different number to call for the time, but I just tried 936-1414 and got the same weather recording as I did with -1212. Hmm. I know I’ve called the time number within the past couple of years, I can just never remember what it is (I always wind up asking my mom)! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/6 "2007-05-09T18:58:53Z")
[QUOTE=Misnomer] I’m 35, and have always been able to call 936-1212 for weather – from Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Virginia. In fact, I called it just now to make sure. 🙂 I definitely remember there being a different number to call for the time, but I just tried 936-1414 and got the same weather recording as I did with -1212. Hmm. I know I’ve called the time number within the past couple of years, I can just never remember what it is (I always wind up asking my mom)! [/QUOTE] I’m 35 also, and it seems now that the weather report on 936-1212 is run by the local Fox station. Is it the same where you are? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/7 "2007-05-09T19:02:41Z")
I’m 31, and in the LA area. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been able to dial 853-1212 to get the time. I don’t know anything about calling for weather reports. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/8 "2007-05-09T19:05:28Z")
The UK has a national “speaking clock” service. The number is simply **123**. Apparently you used to have to dial [TIM](http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/images/speak_clock_card.jpg), which would be 846. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/9 "2007-05-09T19:48:43Z")
[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu] I’m 35 also, and it seems now that the weather report on 936-1212 is run by the local Fox station. Is it the same where you are? [/QUOTE] Nope, here it’s “brought to you by Verizon.” 🙂 And I found the time number: 844-1212. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/10 "2007-05-10T00:16:57Z")
Here, you dial “grandma” ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/11 "2007-05-10T00:22:19Z")
1194 ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/12 "2007-05-10T00:45:38Z")
Edmonton’s weather is 468-4940. I don’t think it spells anything. The first thing on the recording (before it tells you the weather) is that if you want further information, dial 462-7120. I don’t think that spells anything either. The time **USED** to be 421-1111 (and I remember that there was a different number before that, but I don’t remember exactly what it was). However, Edmontonians please don’t try that number out unless you want to store stuff; it belongs to a storage company now and I wouldn’t want them to get mad at SDMB because a bunch of weird people ask them what time it is. :eek: I don’t know of any current phone number for time. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/13 "2007-05-10T04:29:03Z")
Here’s it’s 526-5261. I had a friend call it JAM-JAM1 once, totally confusing me. It’s long been sponsored by Captain D’s. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/14 "2007-05-10T14:04:56Z")
In Chillicothe, Ohio in the 70s and 80s the number was 774-2151. Still up and running, says Google. Oh, what the hey… ::dials phone:: …wow, that took me back. Same prerecorded voice. Announcement still sponsored by Huntington Bank (with a little ad at the beginning). 77 degrees is a bit warmer than Seattle at the moment, but Ohio has 3 hours on us. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/15 "2007-05-10T14:08:33Z")
[QUOTE=Canadjun] Edmontonians please don’t try that number out unless you want to store stuff; it belongs to a storage company now and I wouldn’t want them to get mad at SDMB because a bunch of weird people ask them what time it is. :eek: [/QUOTE] I don’t know; I like to be sure companies I do business with have a firm grasp of what time it is. It’s the first question I ask any place I call. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/16 "2007-05-10T14:10:24Z")
[QUOTE=C3] When I was a teenager, and wanted to stay up all night chatting to boys on the telephone, I would tell a guy to call me at a certain time (say, midnight). Then, I’d call time or weather and wait for the call waiting to beep in. That way, my parents wouldn’t hear the phone ring and I could stay up all night flirting away. [/QUOTE] I totally did that too 🙂 In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever called the weather or time to actually _get_ the weather or time. I used it as my super secret phone buddy! heh ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/17 "2007-05-10T14:46:21Z")
In the SF Bay Area, it is (or was) POPCORN. or any number that started 767. “At the tone, Pacific Daylight time is 10:42, and 20 seconds. BEEP” Later, I heard that 676-1000 would give you sexy time- [sultry] “At the moan, the time will be 10:43. ohhhh”[/sultry] ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/18 "2007-05-10T15:47:09Z")
[QUOTE=muldoonthief] In Boston, 1-617-637-any 4 numbers gets you time and temperature. I can’t get 63 or 637 to mean anything meaningful though. [/QUOTE] We used to say you dial NESTLES. Although as a comedian pointed out, you can get the time by dialing most any number if you wait late enough at night. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/19 "2007-05-10T17:05:16Z")
The number here was 344-4321. I don’t know if this is still a working number (it probably is, but it might be someone’s home or business, so I don’t want to chance calling a possible wrong number). It may be listed in the local phone directory, but I can’t be bothered to check at the moment. Side note: When I was a young kid I used to think it was an actual human being who read people the time off a clock on the wall every time someone called. “Man, what an incredibly BORING job that would be!” I thought to myself before I learned that it was an automated recording. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421/20 "2007-05-11T00:25:25Z")
[QUOTE=dwc1970] Side note: When I was a young kid I used to think it was an actual human being who read people the time off a clock on the wall every time someone called. “Man, what an incredibly BORING job that would be!” I thought to myself before I learned that it was an automated recording. [/QUOTE] It _was_! Well, it was in Australia at least. I’d be guessing, but I think it changed over in the late Forties or early Fifties, when we got the recorded message. It used to be staffed by women running very short shifts of maybe half an hour at a time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-weather-and-time/403421.md?page=2)