Experts warn of fake weather images through use of AI

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Misinformation is a problem almost everywhere, and it’s become even more widespread with the use of artificial intelligence.

Some people are creating fake images and posing them as real severe weather events. Nashville’s National Weather Service leaders said it’s having an impact on how they work.

“We actually have to take time to figure out ‘Is this image legitimate,’” said Ryan Husted, the coordination meteorologist at NWS.

Husted said NWS has always dealt with people making “prank calls,” but in the last few years, it’s fake images they’re now tackling. Recently, AI images were created during the aftermath of both hurricanes Milton and Helene.

“Some of these images are so good you really have to look at the subtilities,” said Husted.

Husted said another issue is that some of the images are real, but they’re from years ago.

“We can tell, this is old. I’ve seen this before, or this doesn’t look real, or it’s not in the right place it should be compared to our radar,” Husted said.

People with good intentions often share the fake pictures or past severe weather events adding to the spread of misinformation. It’s something WSMV’s First Alert Meteorologist Dan Thomas said he sees arrive in his inbox from time to time.

“The bottom line, it slows us down,” Thomas said

Thomas said the impacts of images can be serious.

“We’ve all seen what social media can do. We’ve seen what a sensational post can do,” said Thomas. “It goes viral, so there’s a temptation actually for some youth out there to…[I’m] going to put a tornado in my neighborhood, superimpose it and just say, this just hit my area.”

NWS and WSMV4’s First Alert Weather team both have systems in place to verify what’s real and what’s fake.

WSMV4’s First Alert Weather team uses a program that flags suspicious content.

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