The BBC has issued an apology after its weather app accidentally forecast “hurricane-force winds” of over 13,000mph in London.
These winds would be 100 times faster than Hurricane Milton – which is currently ravaging Florida – whose gusts have peaked at 90mph.
Temperatures of more than 400C were also predicted in Nottingham, mercury that if were true, would have obliterated the entire region.
BBC Weather forecasters quickly apologised for the error and said the glitch was being looked into.
“Oops, don’t be alarmed by some of our [BBC Weather app] data this morning,” lead BBC Weather presenter and meteorologist Simon King wrote on X.
“Be assured there won’t be 14,408mph winds, hurricane force winds or overnight temperatures of 404C. It is being looked at and hopefully sorted asap.”
Carol Kirkwood, the veteran meteorologist for BBC Breakfast, addressed the glitch during her forecast this morning.
When asked about the issue, Charlie Stayt, one of the show’s presenters, said: “Now Carol, we love a weather map and we love information… There is a problem this morning. I think we can illustrate it now on the BBC Weather app, which is suggesting that there were hurricane-style winds all over the UK, which is clearly, manifestly not true.”
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These winds would be 100 times faster than Hurricane Milton
BBC
Temperatures of over 400C were also predicted in Nottingham
BBC
She was quick to reassure viewers: “Absolutely, Charlie, it’s not true at all.
“We have a bit of a technical glitch at the moment. Believe you me, it is all hands on deck at the moment trying to sort it out quickly, so do not believe that. We do not have hurricane-strength winds or anything like it in this country today – or in the future, hopefully!”
A BBC spokesman 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.”
The spokesman said that the accurate weather headlines for the day included colder, clearer air moving in, rain and drizzle in the south and blustery showers near the east coast.
A BBC spokesman added that the problem was down to a third-party supplier and the glitch should be fixed “as soon as possible”.
The forecast coincided with a “once-in-a-generation” storm – Hurricane Milton – that is battering Florida.
Millions were ordered to evacuate ahead of the hurricane making landfall, with nine deaths recorded so far.
It was a Category 5 hurricane but it has since been downgraded to a Category 3.
