BBC weather apologises for incorrectly forecasting 'hurricane force winds' in UK

Forecasts stated that London was set to experience winds of more than 13,000mph, while Nottingham would experience overnight temperatures of 404c. Credit: PA

Temperatures of over 400C would be more common on the planet Venus, but today they were forecast for the UK along with windspeeds of more than 13,000mph.

The BBC has been forced to apologise for incorrectly forecasting "hurricane force winds" on its weather app and website after a "data glitch".

Forecasts stated that London was set to experience winds of more than 13,000mph, while Nottingham would experience overnight temperatures of 404C.

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.”

Lead BBC weather presenter and meteorologist, Simon King, also assured users of the website and app that there will not be “14408mph winds, hurricane force winds or overnight temperatures of 404C” in a social media post.

The highest wind speed ever recorded was a 253mph wind gust off Barrow Island, Australia in 1996, and the highest temperature on earth was 56.7C in Death Valley in 1913.

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

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.”

It added that 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.

A BBC spokesperson added that the issue was with a third-party supplier which they were working with to fix the issue “as soon as possible.”

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