BBC and Met Office team up to tackle 'weather disinformation'

The BBC and the Met Office have partnered to tackle “weather disinformation,” renewing their collaboration eight years after the BBC ended its forecasting contract with the Met Office in 2017. The initiative aims to provide “weather education” to counter false narratives, including conspiracy theories about cloud formations and aircraft vapor trails.

Some online claims falsely assert that these trails are chemicals sprayed for weather control or psychological manipulation. Other misinformation includes exaggerated reports of “heatwaves” and “snowbombs,” which could mislead the public and hinder safety measures during severe weather.