BBC Weather app glitch forecasts 14,000mph hurricane winds for UK

by DD Desk
October 10, 2024
BBC Weather app glitch forecasts 14,000mph hurricane winds for UK

After inadvertently releasing a forecast for gusts exceeding 13,500 mph, the BBC was compelled to reassure the audience. According to inaccurate BBC weather app data, there were predictions for Thursday that places in the UK will see "hurricane force winds" and temperatures exceeding 400C.One of the meteorologists and top weather presenters for the network, Simon King, was among those who reassured Britons about the technological issue. "Oops, don't be alarmed by some of our BBC Weather app data this morning," Mr. King wrote on X after sharing a screenshot of Nottingham's forecast on Thursday morning. The forecast called for temperatures of 404C and winds of 14,804 mph. "Relax, there won't be hurricane force winds, 14408 mph winds, or 404°C nighttime temperatures.“It is being looked at and hopefully sorted asap.”

An X user jokingly posted a screengrab of the “hurricane force winds” forecast underneath Mr King’s post, with the caption: “Just debating whether to put my bins out.”A resident of Bristol posted a screenshot of their area’s forecast, which appeared to have some of the fastest winds of the erroneous predictions.Next to the shot showing the 15,909mph winds forecast on the BBC weather app, they wrote: “Almost 16,000mph winds here in Bristol!”A statement from BBC weather on social media said: “You may have noticed some data issues on our app and website. We are working hard to fix it quickly. Sorry – please bear with us.”

Meanwhile, BBC broadcast meteorologist Matt Taylor assured the public that Hurricane Milton, the category three storm that made landfall in Florida overnight, was not on its way to the UK.“Don’t be alarmed folks – Hurricane Milton hasn’t made it to us here in the UK!”, he wrote on X alongside a screenshot of an extreme prediction on the weather app.“There’s been a data glitch between our suppliers and the app/online. Folk are working to solve the issue.

“No need to panic buy plywood and candles.”

BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood also told BBC Breakfast viewers that the weather centre was experiencing a “technical glitch” that they were trying to fix “right now”.

BBC weather said the accurate weather headlines for Thursday included colder, clearer air moving in, rain and drizzle in the south and blustery showers near the east coast.