The BBC has forecast a hurricane with wind speeds of more than 15,000mph set to smash into Suffolk... but should people be running for cover?

In short, no. It seems the BBC weather app has been hit by a glitch with a "data fault issue" sending the forecast haywire.

According to the app areas including Sudbury, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket were to be hit by wind speeds of 15,000mph. 

The BBC weather app was suggesting that hurricane winds could hit parts of SuffolkThe BBC weather app was suggesting that hurricane winds could hit parts of Suffolk (Image: BBC Weather)

The BBC has said it is working to resolve the problem and apologised for any confusion caused.

BBC broadcast meteorologist Matt Taylor assured the public that Hurricane Milton, the category three storm that made landfall in Florida overnight, was not on its way to the UK.

“Don’t be alarmed folks – Hurricane Milton hasn’t made it to us here in the UK!”, he wrote on X alongside a screenshot of an extreme prediction on the weather app.

“There’s been a data glitch between our suppliers and the app/online. Folk are working to solve the issue.

“No need to panic buy plywood and candles.”

A spokesman for BBC Weather said: "We have an issue with some of the weather data from our forecast provider which is generating incorrect numbers and text on our BBC Weather app and website.

"It’s mainly been impacting wind readings but some temperatures are also displaying wrongly.

"We recognise there is huge interest in the weather today and this is incredibly frustrating.

"We are really, really sorry about this and are working very hard to fix the problem."