BBC refreshes 'Cooler Than Me?' interactive to let users compare local forecasts worldwide

Britain's long-standing habit of complaining about the weather has a new outlet: an updated interactive on the BBC Weather website called "Cooler Than Me?" that allows users to compare their local forecast with cities around the world. The feature was refreshed on 6 September 2025 and is presented as a playful way to put daily forecasts in an international context.

The tool asks users to enter a location and then shows how that place's forecasted temperatures compare to a set of cities globally for the same period. The BBC said the interactive is aimed at helping people visualise where their weather sits on a global scale and to add a light-hearted element to routine forecast checking. Users wanting details on the data sources and calculation methods are directed to the accompanying FAQ on the BBC Weather site.

The update arrives as public interest in local and global weather information remains high. Short-term forecast tools such as "Cooler Than Me?" present immediate, day-to-day comparisons rather than long-term climate trends, and the BBC emphasises that the interactive uses forecast data rather than climate averages. The latest forecast data and the interactive are available on the BBC Weather website.

Meteorology has increasingly moved into the public spotlight in recent years, as extreme weather and record temperatures have underscored the societal importance of accurate forecasts. While the interactive is designed primarily for user engagement and direct comparison of short-term temperatures, meteorologists caution that single-day comparisons do not reflect broader changes in climate.

Scientists have repeatedly noted that human-caused climate change is shifting temperature averages and influencing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Long-term climate monitoring and peer-reviewed research are the established ways to track those shifts. The BBC's interactive does not attempt to perform climate analysis but rather to allow users to see how their immediate weather stacks up against different places at the same moment.

Public-facing tools such as this serve multiple functions: they make weather information more accessible, encourage people to check forecasts regularly, and can prompt interest in how weather differs regionally and globally. The BBC has long sought to combine straightforward forecasts with explainer content; the FAQ linked to the interactive outlines what the tool does and does not do, including the distinction between forecast comparisons and climate assessment.

The refreshed feature is framed as a light-hearted addition to the BBC's suite of weather products rather than a scientific instrument. It may also feed into the familiar national conversation about the state of the sky, whether that conversation is framed as complaint or curiosity. For those who want to try the interactive or review the forecast data underpinning it, the BBC Weather website hosts both the "Cooler Than Me?" tool and the explanatory FAQ.

Readers can access the interactive and related forecast material on the BBC Weather page at https://www.bbc.com/weather/articles/cwy5r7xwq8xo.