BBC weather app has incorrectly forecast ‘hurricane force winds’ for Spalding, Bourne, Stamford and Grantham

The BBC has apologised for its weather app and website incorrectly forecasting ‘hurricane force winds’ to hit the UK as it works to fix data issues.

Graphics showed Lincolnshire and Rutland were set to experience winds of more than 15,000mph today (Thursday, October 10). In Spalding the weather app warned users of 15,493mph wind, the Bourne site stated winds of 15,289mph would brace the town, Grantham with 15,708mph, Stamford with 14,659mph and Oakham, 15,856mph.

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.”

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.”