Remembering the Burns Day storm of 1990

The storm of 1990 saw gale force winds of up to 100mph. Credit: Reuters

January 25th is Burns Night - when many Scots celebrate the birthday of national poet Robert Burns.

This weekend also marks the 25 year anniversary of the Burns' Day Storm.

Contrary to popular belief it was the strongest storm ever to hit our shores - not the Great Storm of 1987 (known to many as the Michael Fish hurricane).

A scene in Wales from the 'Great Storm' of 1987. Credit: PA

It proved more fatal and more expensive than any other weather event to date. As a nationwide disaster, damages exceeded 3 billion.

The storm struck during the 25th of January 1990. And as it tracked across southern Scotland brought a swathe of dangerously strong to hurricane force winds.

Gusts of over 100mph were recorded in west Wales and Cornwall.

The strongest winds also affected a larger area than 1987 and made impact during the daytime.

More than 100 trees were destroyed at Kew Gardens after the Burns Day storm. Credit: PA

Consequently there was not only more disruption but many more injuries and fatalities with 47 lives lost, mainly due to collapsing building and falling trees.

Around 3 million trees were felled, 500,000 people were subjected to disrupted power and parts of England saw severe flooding.

The powerful storm then tracked rapidly eastwards into the Low Countries and mainland Europe bringing further serious damage to infrastructure and flattened acres of forests.