The summer of 2026 has featured a lot of stories about the weather.
With temperatures rising in the run-up to the school holidays, you may have found yourself checking out the weather maps more than usual to see if the sun will be hanging out with us for a few weeks longer.
And have you ever wondered what the different colours on weather map - from the blues of deep winters to the oranges and dark reds of a heatwave – actually represent? BBC Bitesize Other Side of the Story has taken a look at why these different shades are chosen to represent the various temperatures and - with expert help from BBC Weather presenter Darren Bett - explain why some people are using them to spread misinformation about climate change.
How does the colour scale on weather maps work?
Darren explained how the current colour scale on weather maps is blue for the coolest temperatures and a dark red for the highest. You can see the full scale in this BBC Weather article with the deepest blue at one end registering a freezing minus 22°C and below, and the darkest red at the other for temperatures of 41°C and above.
He said: “That range hasn't changed since 2017, and you have to be very careful when you create this colour scheme because you've got to make it accessible for everybody.”
This includes anyone who may have sight problems, such as colour blindness, and Darren added that a lot of thought goes in to making sure the scales are set up so as many people as possible can understand them.
How do we know which sources to trust about the weather?
There are a number of online conspiracies theories about weather, including those that the colours on weather maps have been exaggerated.
When you see posts online saying that climate change isn't real, without using any official evidence to back it up, then it is an example of misinformation - if it has been shared by someone who believes it to be true. If someone is deliberately trying to spread stories about climate change being a hoax, it is known as disinformation.
One of the official organisations we can look to for climate information is The Met Office. It has been studying the weather since 1854 and Darren revealed just how thorough they are in checking temperatures.
He said: “They have a network of observation sites around the UK that are regularly monitored and maintained to an international standard. And anytime you set a temperature record in the UK, the Met Office will describe it as a provisional temperature record.
“They would then go out and assess the site the temperature record was broken at, to check that the everything's working right, there's been no changes to airflow within the area, no heat sources that have suddenly sprung up nearby that could change those temperatures. And if there is something that they're not happy with, they would discount that temperature.”
These strict levels of testing make the Met Office and services such as BBC Weather a trusted source for information. They are both independent and present information based on scientific research without any bias towards a certain group or idea.
What is the conspiracy theory about colours on weather maps?
Some people say that the colours which represent the usual summer temperatures have deliberately been made into a darker red so that they will appear more often on maps and have a negative impact on audiences. There is no evidence to back to this up and is a conspiracy theory - where some people believe secret groups are keeping the truth hidden from the public.
Darren explained why people may believe this and why it is not true if you follow the forecasts: “Some people think that we might be seeing more red on the chart," he said. "It's not because we've changed the colour scale and it's just that the days are hotter and hotter more widely. So you're seeing more reds simply as a reflection of the high temperatures that we're seeing.”
He also said how climate change is affecting our weather: "The way we experience climate change is through extremes. Our climate has changed even from last century.
“Back then we did not reach even 30°C, anywhere in the UK, in approximately one year in every five. In this most recent heatwave there have already been nine days in a row of 30°C and it could be 13 in a row by Friday 17 July. As an illustration, the number of days of more than 30°C has quadrupled in areas such as Greater London.”
Will climate change mean a different colour scale for weather maps?
The colour theory has connections with people who believe climate change is not real and the colours on weather maps are all part of the conspiracy.
But, as Darren said, the darker reds we see on weather maps at the moment are linked to temperature records that keep on being broken in the summer months. So much so, the scale may have to be updated in the near future to show even warmer temperatures.
Darren continued: “If you think about it, we set our record temperature in 2022, that was 40.3°C so that takes us to almost the top of our colour scheme. If we are to see temperatures significantly above that, and there was a recent report by the chief scientist of the Met Office who said in 30 years' time, we could see temperatures as high as 45°C because of climate change. Then it’s possible we may need to consider looking at our temperature scale.”
Remember to think critically when you see posts or stories from people who may have their own agenda on subjects like climate change - it’s always worth getting a balanced view, check your facts, look for more than one source - and then make your own mind up.
This article was published in July 2026
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