BBC Weather forecast issues 'undermine credibility'

BBC Weather is experiencing issues with its forecast data, with many online pages incorrectly suggesting locations around the world are facing 'hurricane force winds' and extreme temperatures. 

Professor Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, said: "The BBC Weather Hurricane Hack is an amusing if alarming reminder of the importance of 24/7 reliable weather information for many people in all parts of their lives.

"The fiasco could be caused by a problem with an update to the display of the forecast  that's gone wrong, or a malicious hacker exploiting vulnerabilities in the BBC Weather online system. 

"Whatever the reason, glitches like this have a serious side, in that they can undermine the credibility of real forecasts of extreme weather and early warnings. As we are seeing on Florida right now, clear and believable weather information that leads to action can be the difference between life and death. Delivering weather information is hard and BBC Weather is one of the most important sources of weather information in the UK. 

"Myself and many of my colleagues at the University of Reading work closely with the BBC Weather team. They do a brilliant job of keeping people informed and up to date. I don't know what's going on at BBC Weather right now, but it is unacceptable that they don't seem to have been able to pull the plug on this glitch, several hours after it occurred. I hope it will be resolved as soon as possible."