Michael Fish and the mystery woman

[Colophon]

UK dopers will recall that prior to the Great Storm of October 1987, the weather forecaster Michael Fish said that a woman had phoned the BBC earlier to say that she's heard there was a hurricane on the way. "Well don't worry, there isn't," he said, for which he got a lot of grief. (Actually, I seem to remember he said "Don't worry, there isn't, but it will be very windy," but these things get forgotten for the sake of a good story.)

Anyway, what I want to know is, was this mystery woman ever identified? And if so, where did she get her information from?

[Celyn]

Good question. I don't recall her ever being identified, 'cos I am pretty sure her name would have been all over the media - the more tabloidy type at least.

Now, wouldn't you think that the Beeb might have tracked her down and employed her.

Oh, boy, do I remember that bit of "very windy"! Just a tiny bit difficult to get to work that day!

[The Great Unwashed]

The Met Office say what hurricane? (http://www.met-office.gov.uk/education/historic/1987.html)

Journalists, looking for a sensational story, accused the Met Office of failing to forecast the storm correctly. Repeatedly, they returned to the statement by Michael Fish that there would be no hurricane - which there hadn't been.(my emphasis)

[Colophon]

I know it wasn't a hurricane - and if you listen to the legend you'd think Fish had predicted a lovely calm autumn day, which he palpably hadn't - but I'm surprised the media didn't track down this mystery woman. It would have made for a good story.

[ShetlandPony]

I have a vague memory ( so no cite) that the British Met Office didn't predict a storm but the European Weather Service ( also in the UK ) did. The caller had seen a report from the European service and then checked with the BBC.

Anybody else also have the same vague memories

Pony =:^)