A very stiff breeze: BBC says sorry for 20,000 kph wind forecast
The BBC has apologized for a wind speed forecast of 20,000 kilometers per hour (kph), which was mistakenly published on its website on Friday.
The error, which was quickly corrected, sparked a flurry of online mockery, with users pointing out the implausibility of such wind speeds.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: “We apologize for the error in the wind speed forecast. We have identified the issue and taken steps to prevent this from happening again.”
The spokesperson also noted that the error was caused by a “technical issue” and that “no harm was done” as a result.
However, many on social media were less forgiving, pointing to the potential for the error to cause anxiety or even panic among those who rely on the BBC’s weather forecasts.
“It’s not just funny, it’s irresponsible,” one user wrote on Twitter. “People rely on this information, and making a mistake like that is potentially dangerous.”
The BBC has faced criticism in recent years for its weather forecasting, including errors in snowfall predictions and the timing of heatwaves.
This latest incident will likely add further scrutiny to its weather forecasting practices, and raise questions about the quality control measures in place.
The speed of wind is usually measured in meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h). For example, a light breeze is about 1-5 m/s, a strong wind is about 10-19 m/s, and a hurricane is about 33 m/s or higher.
The highest recorded wind speed ever was 408 km/h, measured in a tornado in Oklahoma in 1999. Even the highest sustained wind speeds recorded are far below 20,000 km/h.
The BBC’s error serves as a reminder that even the most reliable sources can make mistakes, and that it’s important to be critical of all information, particularly when it comes to weather forecasting.
This error could also be attributed to a variety of factors, including human error, faulty equipment, or software glitches.
As technology advances, it is becoming more difficult to control the sheer amount of data being generated, leading to potential mistakes and the importance of robust systems to verify accuracy before dissemination.
The BBC’s apology is a positive step, and hopefully a sign of their commitment to improving their weather forecasting accuracy and accountability in the future.
