The BBC Weather app recently experienced a glitch that caused it to forecast hurricane-force winds of up to 14,000mph for the UK. This erroneous data led to locations across the UK being incorrectly predicted to experience extreme weather conditions, including temperatures exceeding 400°C. The glitch caught the attention of many, prompting the broadcaster to issue reassurances to the public.
Leading weather presenter and meteorologist, Simon King, took to social media to address the technical error. He shared a screenshot showing Nottingham’s forecast with temperatures of 404°C and winds of 14,804mph, while assuring the audience that such extreme conditions were not to be expected. The BBC quickly acknowledged the issue and expressed their commitment to resolving it.
Amid the confusion caused by the glitch, residents also shared amusing screenshots of their area forecasts showing absurdly high wind speeds. BBC weather released a statement on social media acknowledging the data issues on their app and website, reassuring users that they were working to rectify the situation promptly. The broadcaster urged patience as they worked to fix the glitch.
BBC meteorologist Matt Taylor further clarified that there was no real threat of Hurricane Milton, a category three storm, affecting the UK. He attributed the discrepancies to a data glitch between suppliers and the app/website, urging the public not to be alarmed by the extreme predictions. Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood mentioned the technical glitch on BBC Breakfast, assuring viewers that efforts were underway to resolve the issue swiftly.
Despite the inaccurate forecasts caused by the glitch, BBC weather emphasised the correct weather headlines for Thursday, highlighting factors such as colder air moving in, rain and drizzle in the south, and blustery showers near the east coast. The incident served as a reminder of the importance of accurate weather forecasting and the impact of technical errors on public perception and preparedness.