‘It's mindblowing’: meteorologists face death threats as hurricane conspiracies soar

Meteorologists tracking the advance of Hurricane Milton have been targeted by a deluge of conspiracy theories that they were controlling the weather, and abuse and even death threats, amid what they say is an unprecedented surge in misinformation as two major hurricanes have hit the US.

- Oliver Milman

A series of falsehoods and threats have swirled in the two weeks since Hurricane Helene tore through six states causing several hundred deaths, followed by Milton crashing into Florida on Wednesday. As of yesterday, at least 16 people in Florida had been killed as a result of Milton and more than 1,600 rescued from flood waters, rubble, or other hazards, according to state officials.

The extent of the misinformation, which has been stoked by Donald Trump and his followers, has been such that it has stymied the ability to help hurricane-hit communities, according to the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema).

Katie Nickolaou, a Michigan-based meteorologist, said that she and her colleagues have borne the brunt of much of these conspiracies, having received messages claiming there are category 6 hurricanes (there aren't), that meteorologists or the government are creating and directing hurricanes and even that scientists should be killed and radar equipment be demolished.