The BBC Weather app has faced a data glitch causing it to erroneously forecast hurricane-force winds of up to 15,000mph hitting Scotland. The blunder led to alarming predictions on the BBC Weather website and app, indicating extreme wind speeds across various parts of the country. Glasgow was warned of ‘hurricane-force winds’ from the northeast with estimated speeds of 14,700mph, whilst Aberdeen and Inverness also received exaggerated figures of 10,777mph and 15,319mph, respectively.
BBC Scotland Weather addressed the issue on social media, reassuring the public that there was no actual hurricane approaching and attributing the discrepancy to a data error. BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor also took to social media to allay concerns, confirming the data glitch and highlighting efforts to rectify the issue promptly. The BBC’s weather presenter, Simon King, similarly emphasised that the extreme wind speeds and temperatures reported were inaccurate and being investigated.
Currently, BBC Weather has posted a notice on their website acknowledging the data problem and indicating efforts to resolve it. The misleading forecasts coincided with Hurricane Milton hitting the state of Florida in the US, causing flight cancellations and power outages affecting millions of residents. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 120mph, prompted the US National Weather Service to issue flood warnings to over two million people in its path.
The impact of Hurricane Milton also led to significant power outages, affecting more than 2 million residents in Florida. Airlines, including Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and Tui, cancelled flights between the UK and Florida due to the storm. Various airports in Florida, such as Orlando International and Tampa International, closed for commercial operations as a precautionary measure. The situation in Florida serves as a stark contrast to the erroneous weather predictions for Scotland, underscoring the importance of accurate forecasting and preparedness in the face of natural disasters.
Overall, the incident highlighted the critical role of reliable weather information in ensuring public safety and the need for swift resolution of any technical glitches in forecasting systems. It also serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of weather patterns and the importance of vigilance in responding to extreme weather events.