DON’T PANIC! BBC weather app ‘bug’ lists hurricanes and 15,000mph winds in Inverness
As Florida is battered by the storm Milton, it was especially unfortunate that the BBC’s online weather forecasts in the North and elsewhere in the country suffered a major glitch and began showing insane hurricane windspeeds this morning.
Thousands of people checking the Beeb weather app online were confronted by three chilling words “Hurricane force winds.” and speeds being shown as high as 15345
Some of the crazy readings had Inverness was showing 15319mph; Invergordon 5421mph; Dingwall 5478; Tain 7236 and Oban 14081mph!
--A short time later a pop-up on the BBC digital forecasts clarified: “We’re experiencing issues with our forecast data. We’re working to resolve it.”
And an apology was issued across the country about the “bug” that hit their system, ands saying there was no hurricane.
The BBC Weather website and app are suffering a data fault issue, meteorologists have said, after forecasts showed hurricane force winds hitting the UK.
Graphics show estimated wind speeds of 13,508mph in London - far in excess of any genuine hurricane - and overnight temperatures of 404C in Nottingham.
Presenter Matt Taylor said in a post on X: "Don't be alarmed folks - Hurricane Milton hasn't made it to us here in the UK! There's been a data glitch between our suppliers and the app/online. Folk are working to solve the issue."
BBC Weather apologised and said it is working hard to fix the problem.
In another post, presenter Simon King said: "Oops, don’t be alarmed by some of our BBC Weather app data this morning.
"Be assured there won’t be 14408mph winds, hurricane force winds or overnight temperatures of 404C."
Forecasters have also acknowledged the issue on TV bulletins.
In a statement, BBC Weather said: "We have an issue with some of the weather data from our forecast provider which is generating incorrect numbers and text on our BBC Weather app and website.
"It’s mainly been impacting wind readings but some temperatures are also displaying wrongly.
"We recognise there is huge interest in weather today and this is incredibly frustrating.
"We are really, really sorry about this and working very hard to fix the problem."
A BBC spokesperson also apologised and it was working with its supplier to fix the issue as soon as possible.
The glitch had echoes of the infamous weather broadcast in October 1987 when BBC TV weather presenter Michael Fish wrongly denied claims a hurricane was going to hit Britain.
Hours after he said there was no hurricane coming "but it will be very windy in Spain" there was devastation across the UK that claimed 18 lives and cost an estimated £2 billion worth in damaged.
