Tornadoes

#ONStorm #ONwx ❗️Northern Tornadoes Project Confirms Viral ‘Tornado’ Pictures From London Were Likely FAKE 🌪️

Following the major storm that caused widespread damage across London and surrounding areas on Tuesday, several photos began circulating online that supposedly showed a tornado on the ground within the city.

As soon as we became aware of these images, we shared them directly with the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP), who we work closely with as an official partner. The NTP immediately expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of the photos. Because of that, we made the decision not to share them publicly until they could be properly verified.

After further investigation, including identifying where the photos appeared to have been taken and the direction the camera was facing, the NTP compared the images against radar data, damage reports and on-the-ground surveys.

Their conclusion was clear. The photos do not match the observed damage path or radar signatures from the storm. In both cases investigated, there was no evidence of a tornado where the photos claimed one existed. The NTP concluded the tornadoes were likely digitally added to otherwise real photos.

This is yet another example of a growing problem with fake storm content being created using AI or photo editing tools and then spread across social media as if it were real. Unfortunately, these images spread extremely quickly and were shared widely before they could be investigated.

This is not harmless fun. Tornadoes are life-threatening events and many people experience very real storm anxiety. Creating fake tornado photos, even as a joke, can cause unnecessary panic and misinformation during dangerous weather situations. Even if your intention is only to prank friends or family, screenshots can easily spread beyond your original audience and quickly become treated as legitimate storm reports.

Please do not generate or share fake storm photos under any circumstances!

This is also why we ask that any photos or videos sent to us are either taken by you personally or shared directly on behalf of someone you know who captured them. If you are passing along second-hand information, please make that clear so we can take the proper steps to verify it.

If you ever spot a tornado yourself, the best thing you can capture is video (only if it’s safe to do so). Video is much harder to fake and makes verification significantly easier. If video is not possible, take multiple photos from different angles and avoid editing the files in any way. Keeping the original files intact can help confirm authenticity.

Unfortunately, due to the increasing amount of fake storm reports online, we now have to approach every submission with caution until it can be verified. We know the vast majority of people have good intentions, but extra vigilance is necessary in today’s environment.

As a weather organization, we take credibility seriously. We are committed to making sure the information and storm reports shared on our platforms are verified to the best of our ability. We will never post unverified images simply to be first or to chase engagement.

We also encourage everyone to think twice before sharing unverified storm images online. If you have not seen the photo verified by Instant Weather, the Northern Tornadoes Project or another trusted media source, it’s best to assume it may not be legitimate until proven otherwise.

Thank you for helping us keep storm coverage accurate, responsible and trustworthy!

- Brennen

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