Meteorologists abused over heatwave warning
Met Office forecasters told to ‘get a grip’ and accused of peddling ‘fear-mongering nonsense’
Meteorologists claim they have been abused over heatwave advice by people telling them to “get a grip”. Forecasters for the Met Office, Royal Meteorological Society and BBC said they faced “trolling” from the public as they sought to warn people about the recent record-breaking heat. The Met Office issued its first red warning for heat for Monday and Tuesday last week, warning that people could face health effects from the unusually high temperatures.
METEOROLOGISTS claim they have been abused over heatwave advice by people telling them to “get a grip”.
Forecasters for the Met Office, Royal Meteorological Society and BBC said they faced “trolling” from the public as they sought to warn people about the recent record-breaking heat.
The Met Office issued its first red warning for heat ahead for Monday and Tuesday last week, warning that people could face health effects from high temperatures that also contributed to wildfires and transport problems.
One social media message directed at a BBC and Met Office meteorologist told them to “get a grip,” adding: “You were obviously never around in 1975/6”.
Prof Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said staff and members had been called liars or accused of not knowing their facts.
She added: “There was a lot of communication around the heatwave event, which was fantastic, but with that came a much larger number of public ridicule comments.
“Social media is a great opportunity to get messages out but it’s also a way for people to put out misinformation and comment personally about people who are experts in their field who are communicating about this event.
“It’s just the sheer number – I had comments on social media but I got direct emails as well.”
She said she had sought legal advice in the past for libellous messages, but had decided not to pursue legal action so as not to amplify the messages.
Prof Bentley said there was a long trend of climate scientists receiving negative letters and emails, but meteorologists talking more about climate change meant they were increasingly experiencing this too.
“It’s great that they are doing more of this – they’re experts, they can speak with authority. They should be having this conversation, but it does open them up to the trolling and negative comments that come as soon as you talk about climate change”.
Tomasz Schafernaker, a high-profile BBC meteorologist, told BBC News: “What frustrates me most is when I’m accused of twisting the truth. As meteorologists, we report facts. There is no conspiracy.”
Alex Deakin, the Met Office’s lead meteorologist, called the messages “scary”.
“I find it more frustrating and offensive for my colleagues – some of the great minds in climate science. Show a bit of respect and do a bit more research rather than believe Bob down the pub or Tony on Youtube,” he told the BBC.
Other messages posted on Twitter in response to heatwave warnings called them “rubbish”, a “fake emergency” and “pathetic, absurd, fear-mongering nonsense”, encouraging forecasters to “resign in disgrace”.
Britain broke the previous record for highest temperature of 38.7C (101.6F) in more than 40 places last week, with the new record of 40.3C recorded.
Ahead of the heatwave, health authorities warned that two days of very high temperatures with a “tropical night” in between would cause circulatory and respiratory problems, particularly among the elderly and vulnerable, while even fit and healthy people were told not to exercise in peak daytime temperatures because of the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
In the 1976 heatwave the peak temperature was 35.9C, which was not a record at the time. Temperatures over 32C lasted for 15 days and contributed to water rationing, a rise in emergency hospital admissions and a 20 per cent rise in excess deaths.
The 2020 heatwave is believed to have contributed to 2,556 deaths, up from less than 1,000 in recent years and the highest level in 15 years. Excess death statistics have not yet been published for this summer’s heatwave.
A BBC spokesman said: “It is completely unacceptable for any member of staff to receive abuse on social media simply for doing their job.”
‘I find it more frustrating and offensive for my colleagues – some of the great minds in climate science. Show a bit of respect rather than believe Bob down the pub or Tony on Youtube’