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Do we get too much ‘weather forecasting’?

(16 Posts)
MawsRosie Thu 09-Jul-26 12:41:24

Is there too much information out there and being fed to us?
The headlines can be alarming and sometimes greatly exaggerated.
I know the Met Office don’t want to fall into the Michel Fish trap (There will be no hurricane ) but are the warnings and forecasts too much?
For instance a Google headline this morning
UK weather maps show 7C chill set to end heatwave with 25 counties below 10C
Met Office forecasters expect heatwave conditions to send temperatures soaring as high as 35C this week, but weather models suggest the mercury could soon drop to 7C
7 C - if only!
But along with this
UK weather maps turn volcanic red for 34C scorcher - 10 regions above 30C at 6pm
Brits braced for 'three-month summer sizzler' as 40.3C all-time high set to be smashed

Heatwave forecasts of the ‘Scorchio’ variety can send some people into a house-insulating tizzy causing worry and stress way ahead of the event.
I know we obsess about the weather in the UK but the media have a lot to answer for.

Oreo Thu 09-Jul-26 12:59:05

At least it gives advance warning to get the ice lollies in, forewarned is forarmed.🤭

keepcalmandcavachon Thu 09-Jul-26 13:07:03

I'm often dazzled by the sheer variety of senarios on different weather sites MawsRosie. I've found the BBC to be far less accurate than the Met Office one for my local area. The BBC frequently get my hopes up with their 40% chance of rain, that comes to nowt!
It pays to shop aroundgrin

Padstow13 Thu 09-Jul-26 13:11:09

Yes.

And the BBC tips over into weather hysteria overdrive on a daily basis.

M0nica Thu 09-Jul-26 13:25:30

Well, if you do not want to read them don't click on them.

I am doing this with both football and tennis at the moment and it is incredibly easy.

MawsRosie Thu 09-Jul-26 14:01:19

M0nica

Well, if you do not want to read them don't click on them.

I am doing this with both football and tennis at the moment and it is incredibly easy.

Easy to say.
Does that mean leaping up to turn off the TV news, or the radio at 2 minutes to 1?
You don’t have to click on ANYTHING to be faced with Google or BBC News headlines when you turn your iPad on!

M0nica Thu 09-Jul-26 14:51:20

I do not watch tv, A weather synopsis on radio is easily missable and when I turn my laptop on I get a page of news headlines and only click on those I am interested in. No clicking on sport and only the occasional click on any weather report.

AmberGran Thu 09-Jul-26 16:50:02

I love weather - anything to do with storms, hurricanes, etc, plus earthquakes and volcanoes.

There is a really good weather YouTube channel called 'Mr Weatherman Europe' which is quite accurate and gives all the reasons for why things are happening. He's American and I follow his channel for the Carribean to see where/when the tropical storms are coming in to the UK over the Winter. Doesn't tell you when to hang the washing out but a good guide for what is coming or the next week.

TillyWhiz Sat 11-Jul-26 13:46:35

I take note only of the BBC and Met Office weather online and find the BBC actually most accurate for my area as the Met Office covers a much larger region with all its variations.

I gave up watching news and weather on TV a long time ago due to its magazine type format and sensationalising.

AuntieE Sat 11-Jul-26 13:58:42

Here we do not get all that many forecasts. Unfortunately ,though the ones we do get differ greatly from each other, except for the fact that they are frequnetly wildly inaccurate.

knspol Sat 11-Jul-26 14:31:51

I do agree that the met Office forecasts are more accurate than the BBC ones.
Also agree that you don't have to watch/listen to forecasts if you don't want.

cc Sat 11-Jul-26 15:25:05

There's definitely a limit to how far ahead they're likely to be accurate, I have to laugh when people start to tell me that we're likely to have a hard winter, months ahead. At the moment I'm just living in hope that we have an unexpected cooler day!
They don't seem to tell you much about humidity, which makes a big difference to my comfort. There was one day this week which was no cooler than others but a slight breeze and lower humidity which made it bearable.
I was out babysitting last night and really enjoyed the short walk home in the cool breeze at midnight. I opened the windows when I got home and our house was lovely and cool first thing, which hasn't happened for some time.

Jess20 Sat 11-Jul-26 18:11:41

IMHO it's a good thing to keep awareness of daily weather fluctuations in the mind of the public - we're being too complaisant about climate change and should be far more aware and concerned.

DamaskRose Sat 11-Jul-26 19:02:19

I would like some accurate weather forecasting from the BBC for my area, north east Scotland, they haven’t got it right for days if not weeks …

FranA Sat 11-Jul-26 19:50:36

It is not just the weather forecast it is the warnings of doom and gloom if you are elderly. I was dreading going out today with kids and grandkids. I am old I need to stay home with curtains; blinds; fans etc. But the family needed me. I had a great morning. Swimming in a river; sitting in the shade enjoying my picnic. Then playing a ball game with the grandkids under the trees. I am so glad the family took me out instead of letting me sit at home and bake from one room to another.

Thisismyname1953 Sat 11-Jul-26 22:24:40

@MOnica . I’m with you . I don’t watch the news or the weather forecast. I also avoid football and tennis like the plague . I look at the weather forecast on my phone only to check if I’m ok to hang my washing out .
There is no point in worrying about things you cannot change .