In the midst of one of the most perilous hurricane seasons, meteorologists, who are often staying awake for days to warn the public, are now dealing with a disturbing new challenge: death threats fueled by conspiracy theories.
“Seemingly overnight, ideas that would have been laughed off as fringe and outlandish have gained traction. It’s making my job a lot harder,” said Washington D.C.-based meteorologist Matthew Cappucci in an interview with Rolling Stone.
Cappucci, along with other weather experts, has been bombarded by accusations that the government is controlling the weather—a theory promoted by individuals like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). Alabama meteorologist James Spann echoed these frustrations, saying he’s been “inundated” with threats from conspiracy theorists, including one message warning him, “Stop lying about the government controlling the weather or else.”
“I’ve been doing this for 46 years and it’s never been this bad,” Spann added.
Meteorologist Katie Nickolaou shared her own chilling experience, tweeting after receiving a death threat: “Murdering meteorologists won’t stop hurricanes. I can’t believe I just had to type that.”
For many in the field, battling misinformation has become an exhausting and dangerous part of the job, detracting from their primary focus—keeping people safe.
“Debunking false claims takes time away from giving accurate forecasts and sharing critical information that could save lives,” Nickolaou said, highlighting the toll this rising trend is taking on meteorologists everywhere.
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