Manipulated weather maps: real forecast or fake news?

The claim

A recent video from The Weather Channel was manipulated by inserting volcanoes and omitting important information about the nature of the weather map.

Our conclusion

The claim is true. The video was actually manipulated, leading to a misinterpretation of the weather forecast and further fueling the debate about the media's portrayal of extreme weather events.

The common claim

There is often criticism on social media and discussions that weather maps, particularly the depiction of heat in striking red tones, are exaggerated. A recent example is a video from “ The Weather Channel ” showing a weather forecast for May Day 2024. It is claimed the video was manipulated by adding non-existent volcanoes and omitting key information about it being just a scenario.

The fact check on the weather map

The original video from The Weather Channel was a preview, not a firm forecast. There were several possible temperature outlooks for May 1, 2024, including a “hottest solution” of up to 27 degrees Celsius. The doctored version of the video that was shared online shows volcanoes that are not present in the original and omits information that this is a possible scenario. This manipulation leads to misunderstandings about the nature of weather forecasts and may cause unnecessary alarm or skepticism.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Question 1: Was The Weather Channel's video actually manipulated?
Answer 1: Yes, the video has been manipulated by adding graphic elements and removing important contextual information.

Question 2: What was the content of the original weather forecast?
Answer 2: The original weather forecast showed various temperature scenarios for May 1, including a possible high of 27 degrees Celsius.

Question 3: How does manipulation affect public perception of weather forecasts?
Answer 3: Manipulation can lead to distrust and confusion by suggesting that the predictions are exaggerated or misrepresented.

Question 4: Are such manipulations a common problem when displaying weather maps?
Answer 4: Yes, there are recurring criticisms and some proven cases of manipulation in the visual representation of weather maps in the media.

Question 5: What can be done to detect such manipulations?
Answer 5: It is important to remain critical, check sources and rely on official and reliable weather services for accurate forecasts.

Conclusion

Verifying and accurately displaying weather maps is critical to maintaining public trust in weather forecasts. Users should always ensure that they obtain information from reliable and verified sources and, if in doubt, carry out further research.

Source: dpa

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )