Met Office defends forecasts amid Storm Bert criticism
- Storm Bert caused severe flooding and wind damage across the UK, leading to at least four deaths.
- The Met Office stated that its rainfall predictions were accurate, defending its warning system.
- The agency plans to review its forecasting and warning strategies to improve future preparedness.
In the aftermath of Storm Bert, which brought torrential rains and winds exceeding 80mph to the UK from November 23 to November 25, 2024, the Met Office faced criticism regarding its forecasts. Despite the adverse effects of the storm, including four fatalities and significant flooding, the Met Office asserted that the observed rainfall was consistent with its prior predictions. During a parliamentary session, Labour MP Alex Barros-Curtis accused the weather agency of incompetence for issuing yellow warnings instead of more severe amber or red warnings. In response, Met Office services director Simon Brown acknowledged the need to enhance preparedness and announced plans to review the organization’s warning strategy in help to mitigate future weather-related disasters. Severe weather events have been increasing in frequency, a trend attributed to climate change, raising concerns about the adequacy of forecasting and public safety measures.