Under a cloud: BBC bosses are accused of making online weather forecasts ‘too pessimistic’ by using raindrop symbol even on sunny days

BBC bosses have been accused of making online weather forecasts “too pessimistic”.

If it rains heavily at night but the weather is sunny during the day, the corporation’s smartphone weather app may display a symbol of a black cloud and a raindrop covering the entire day.

Over the Easter weekend, the app predicted wet conditions at times in many areas.

But Saturday was generally fine, while yesterday was mostly dry with spells of sunshine and heavy rain that didn’t arrive until the afternoon.

Businesses that depend on tourism find the forecasts “frustrating” as they may deter visitors.

The BBC, whose weather forecasts are provided by MeteoGroup, said the forecasts on its app “may give emphasis to a specific period of weather on any given day” but are “designed to be read in context with the bigger picture.”

With warm sunshine, the first part of the Easter weekend felt like spring had finally arrived.

But on Easter Monday came a more predictable holiday season. Heavy rain arrived in southern areas last night and spread northwards overnight.