Hurricane Misinformation: Can You Trust What You See?

HURRICANE CENTER LIVE | Hurricane Misinformation: Can You Trust What You See?

A hurricane appears in a computer model two weeks into the future. Within hours, dramatic forecasts spread across social media. AI-generated flooding videos attract thousands of views. People begin wondering whether to cancel vacations, evacuate or prepare for a disaster that may never happen.

How do you separate legitimate weather information from online hype?

This week on Hurricane Center Live, Dr. Kelli Burns, a professor at the University of South Florida specializing in social media and digital communication, joins Tim and Dr. Hal "Hurricane Hal" Needham for an important conversation about the changing world of hurricane communication.

In this episode:

• How AI-generated disaster images and videos can mislead audiences
• Why social media algorithms amplify sensational weather content
• The rise of weather influencers without professional credentials
• How misinformation undermines trust in meteorologists and emergency officials
• Why long-range hurricane model predictions create unnecessary anxiety
• How credible communicators can build public trust without sensationalism
• What viewers can do to identify trustworthy weather information

The discussion also explores why clear visual storytelling, consistent communication and responsible forecasting are essential to public safety.

The takeaway: Before sharing a dramatic hurricane forecast or disaster video, know the source, check the facts and consider whether the information is credible.

Hurricane Center Live is made possible through the support of USAA, Visit South Padre Island, LiveU and the Texas Weather Network.

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