Hurricane conspiracy theories fuel harassment of meteorologists

False claims about hurricanes being controlled or created by the government have led to increased harassment, including death threats, toward meteorologists working to deliver lifesaving weather forecasts.

Kate Selig reports for The New York Times.

In short:

• Meteorologists have faced escalating threats, including accusations of covering up government manipulation of hurricanes.
• Harassment intensified after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with conspiracy theories spreading online and undermining trust in experts.
• FEMA workers have also been targeted, facing false claims and threats, which hamper disaster response efforts.

Key quote:

“Murdering meteorologists won’t stop hurricanes.”

— Katie Nickolaou, Michigan-based forecaster

Why this matters:

Disinformation erodes public trust in meteorologists when accurate forecasts are crucial for saving lives. The harassment also distracts experts from their primary role, compromising public safety during extreme weather events.

Read more:

• Essay: Meteorologists and the sacred position between people and science.
• Derrick Z. Jackson: The biggest casualty of Trump’s Dorian deceit? Our common bonds
• Meteorologist criticizes DeSantis for removing climate change references from state law