Today show meteorologist Dylan Dreyer is under fire after she mistakenly called the Gulf of America its former name during Friday’s show.
As millions of Americans brace for severe winter weather, the presenter, 44, took a moment to explain where the catastrophic storm is expected to hit.
During the broadcast, Dreyer accidentally referred to the Gulf of America as the Gulf of Mexico, its name before it was controversially changed by Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration.
‘There’s a lot going on, so let’s break it down for you,’ Dreyer said before the error.
‘The storm is just now gathering itself, we’re tapping into some Pacific moisture, we’re going to get some Gulf of Mexico moisture, we’re going to get the Arctic cold, so look at how expansive these winter storm watch warnings.’
The mishap didn’t go unnoticed by viewers, who were quick to point it out in the comments under a clip of the segment on the show’s official Instagram account.
‘It’s Gulf of America!’ one said as another corrected, ‘You mean Gulf of America!’
A third added: ‘Did y’all hear that? Gulf of Mexico.’
Dylan Dreyer has been scolded for calling the Gulf of America its former name on Today
The meteorologist accidentally slipped up during a report on the severe winter storm
‘Lol you need to look at all your maps,’ continued a fourth. ‘It’s now called the Gulf of America.’
Trump changed the name of the oceanic basin from the Gulf of Mexico on January 20 last year.
‘As my Administration restores American pride in the history of American greatness, it is fitting and appropriate for our great Nation to come together and commemorate this momentous occasion and the renaming of the Gulf of America,’ the executive order commemorating the occasion read.
The Department of the Interior confirmed the name change on January 24, noting the body of water’s importance to the United States.
Google Maps updated its system to reflect the change one month later.
For map users in Mexico, however, the area is displayed as the Gulf of Mexico.
Users in Europe and around the world see both names reflected on the map, with the Gulf of America in parentheses.
It comes as more than 230 million Americans are bracing for severe winter weather that forecasters fear will bring heavy snow and catastrophic ice conditions this weekend.
President Trump renamed the gulf on his first day in office on January 20 last year
Trump holds up a signed proclamation declaring February 9 Gulf of America Day
Over a dozen states have already issued disaster or emergency declarations.
The storm is expected to spread from New Mexico to Virginia on Saturday, with widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
By Sunday, forecasters expect the storm to move into the Northeast, bringing bitterly cold temperatures and hazardous travel conditions.
It comes just one week after a powerful Arctic storm wreaked havoc across New England, causing multiple major car pileups on icy roads.
More than 800 flights within, into or out of the United States have delayed or canceled for the day in advance of the storm on Friday, according to FlightAware
