False Claims of Misreported Temperatures Spread Online Amidst Intense Heatwave

Social media has been flooded with false claims suggesting that the BBC and other broadcasters have been misreporting temperatures in southern Europe during an ongoing heatwave. GB News presenter Neil Oliver accused the BBC of "driving fear" by using "supposedly terrifying temperatures," claiming they were obtained from ground temperatures rather than air temperatures. However, BBC Weather confirmed that their temperature reporting and forecasting are based on internationally agreed standards, utilizing thermometers placed in Stevenson screens at a height of 1.25m to ensure accurate readings

Ground temperatures can be 10-15 degrees higher than air temperatures, but they are not used in the BBC's weather reports. Despite evidence-backed reporting, some social media users have attacked BBC Weather forecasts, questioning their accuracy. For instance, an air temperature of 48.2°C recorded in Jerzu, Sardinia, Italy, received criticism online, with claims that the BBC's reports lacked evidence. However, data from Sardinia's Regional Agrometeorological Service validated the high temperatures reported. The WMO also confirmed that the temperature reading was consistent with data from other stations across Sardinia. It's important to note that temperature records are provisional until recognized by relevant authorities.

Weather forecasts are produced using complex computer models, and small variations in atmospheric conditions can affect the accuracy of predictions. While forecasters aim to get as close as possible to the actual temperatures, variations in temperature within a range of two degrees are generally considered accurate. Local variations in temperature can occur, and the BBC's forecast for Sicily, indicating 47°C, was questioned by some Twitter users who pointed out a lower temperature of 37°C listed for Palermo. However, the highest temperature recorded that day in Sicily was 44.8°C in the municipality of Francofonte.