Last month, Storm Bert swept through the country, leaving at least four people dead and hundreds of homes flooded. However, most of the country was only placed under a yellow warning - the Met Office's lowest warning level. The Met Office has now been slammed for its confusing weather warnings ahead of the storm's arrival.
![[Despite the significant damage caused by the storm in Wales and Scotland, most of the country only received a yellow warning - the lowest of the Met Office's three-tiered system]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/15/93043033-14181817-image-a-20_1733929925917.jpg)
Experts claim that the weather agency underplayed the danger, leaving many unprepared to face extremely fast winds and widespread flooding. The weather agency has already faced strong criticism for not issuing a red warning in Wales where the effects of the storm were most severe.
![[Because the Met Office scale appraises both potential impact and likelihood, uncertain but devastating outcomes can generate yellow warnings. Since people don't know this, the public can underestimate the danger of a storm warning]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/15/93043037-14181817-image-a-19_1733929917337.jpg)
But it has now been revealed that the Met Office was warned as early as April that the current warning system might not be effective. The issue was raised at a meeting of the Public Weather Service Customer Group (PWSCG), an independent body which ensures weather services act on the public's behalf.
![[Meeting minutes reveal that the Met Office was warned that yellow warnings were misunderstood in April, more than seven months before Storm Bert left hundreds flooded. Pictured: mobile homes flooded in Northampton, England after Storm Bert]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/15/93040133-14181817-image-a-3_1733929698153.jpg)
The meeting minutes show the Met Office had seen evidence suggesting people did not heed yellow weather warnings almost eight months before the deadly storm hit. The Met Office has been slammed for issuing confusing weather warnings ahead of the deadly Storm Bert which swept the country in November leaving hundreds flooded and five dead. Pictured: People pour water out of their garden in Pontypridd, Wales after storm Bert.
![[Experts have criticised the Met Office for downplaying the risk of the storm, leaving some unprepared to face the intense rainfall and strong winds. Pictured: a man pours water out of his shop in Pontypridd, one of the worst affected areas]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/15/93040229-14181817-image-a-8_1733929862076.jpg)
