THE 1987 storm was the worst weather incident in 300 years when it hit and the UK hasn't seen anything like it 35 years later.
On October 16, 1987, the nation was battered with one of the worst storm's in its history, causing £2 billion in damages.
How strong were the winds in 1987?
The Great Storm of 1987 had high hourly-mean wind speeds of 86mph, with the gusts lasting for hours on end.
Some were recorded to last for four hours without stopping, ultimately leading to loss of life and catastrophic damages for the nation.
In the 35 years following the event, it has gone down as one of the most devastating storms in modern British history.
What happened in the 1987 Great Storm?
During the early hours of October 16, 1987, the south coast of England was wrecked by the greatest storm in nearly centuries.
Days before the storm struck, forecasters predicted severe weather in the form of heavy rain was on the way.
By the time most people had gone to bed on 15 October, TV weather warnings still had not launched any warnings of brutal winds.
But the Met Office reportedly alerted the Ministry of Defence at around 1am asking for military assistance to help Britons battle the storm's impact.
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Eighteen people lost their lives in the horror storm, and four people were killed in France.
Around 15 million trees were blown down, many falling onto the roads and railways, blocking transport links and causing waves of transport chaos.
Thousands were left without power for more than 24 hours as some destroyed electricity and telephone lines, forcing officials to call more than 50 engineers from Cornwall and Carlisle.
A ship capsized at Dover and a Channel Ferry was driven ashore near Folkstone, during the most devastating storm since 1703.
What did Michael Fish predict in weather forecast?
BBC weatherman Michael Fish incorrectly dismissed the Great Storm as anything but a hurricane.
His understated forecast made waves following the event, as the UK was left completely unprepared for the catastrophic events to come.
During his lunchtime news forecast 30 years ago, a smirking Mr Fish said: "Earlier on today a woman rang the BBC and said she had heard a hurricane was on the way.
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He said: "Well I can assure people watching, there isn't."
His forecast claimed it would be a "little bit breezy up the Channel", which left the Met Office scrutinised by two independent assessors.
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