Storm as Met Office cuts back forecasts

THE Met Office faced an outcry yesterday after seeming to suggest it would cut back on forecasting weather out of ‘respect’ to the Queen.

In a tweet posted yesterday morning, the service wrote: ‘We are saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with her family and all those affected by this news. As a mark of respect during this time of national mourning, we will only be posting daily forecasts and warnings.’

Social media users were quick to blast the tweet, with former BBC news correspondent Jon Sopel writing on Twitter: ‘I’m totally bewildered… why is it a mark of respect to give us the weather forecast for today but not tomorrow? Or to put it another way, why is it disrespectful to give us tomorrow’s weather?’

Broadcaster and Mail+ contributor Michael Crick called the apparent move ‘even nuttier than postponing football matches’, while Piers Morgan wrote: ‘How does withholding weather reports respect the Queen?’

But Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge has clarified the forecaster will still be providing full weather forecast and warnings information, but ‘pausing’ all other ‘non-operational content’.

He said: ‘It is unfortunate there has been confusion. Our intention is to focus on the forecast within our seven-day forecasting horizon.

‘We are pausing other content temporarily, so the public can focus on any potential impactful weather during the national mourning period.’