Michael Fish Moment

With Hurricane Ophelia headed in the direction of the U.K., it seems like an appropriate moment to remember the Great Storm of 1987. In particular, Oct 15, 1987, when TV weatherman Michael Fish opened his forecast with the remark, "Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way; well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't." A few hours later, the worst storm in 300 years hit Britain, killing 18 people. Though, in Fish's defense, it technically wasn't a hurricane.

In the UK, whenever anyone makes a really bad prediction, it's still known as a "Michael Fish moment."

More info: wikipedia

     Posted By: Alex - Sun Oct 15, 2017
     Category: Predictions | 1980s | Weather





Comments
He hadn't taken into his forecast that my cat had been chasing butterflies a few days earlier.
Posted by BMN on 10/15/17 at 09:50 PM
I worked in Pittsbugh, PA for a few years in the late 1990's and while there, after a very sunny, warm spring morning, a sudden deluge of up to six inches of rain over a few hours hit the area without warning, causing flooding in a few nearby valley areas and the loss of more than a few homes.

Ironically the private weather service AccuWeather, based about 125 miles from Pitttsburgh in State College and selling itself as the "most accurate weather forecast service on Earth," predicted sunny fair skies all day without any chance of rain for the area even though the National Weather Service had called for rain. I notice that AccuWeather no longer touts themselves so grandly today. So, don't be so hard on Mr. Fish - loss of credibility can be punishment enough.
Posted by KDP on 10/16/17 at 08:10 AM
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