Five of the worst storms to ever hit the UK

  • Weather

Thousands of homes have already been left without power as Britain prepares for the full force of Storm Abigail to hit.

Here are five of the worst storms Britain has seen in recent years:

Storm clouds brewing over County Durham. Credit: Reuters

  • 5th December 2013

With maximum gust of 93mph at Altnhaharra and 142mph at Aonach Mor (Scottish Highlands), a significant storm surge affected the North Sea coast and north coast of Wales bringing widespread flooding.

At Lowestoft the surge was 2m above predicted high water and for some parts of East Anglia it was the worst flooding since the 1950s.

Two fatalities were directly blamed on the storm.

Scotland’s rail network was shut down, with 100,000 homes with out power.

Several hundred homes were also flooded along the east coast and the Thames Barrier was closed.

Waves crash over the promenade in Devon. Credit: PA

  • 23rd-24th December 2013

An intense storm moved across the far north of Scotland, with Stornoway recording the lowest pressure at a mainland UK station in over 100 years (936.8mb).

Winds of up to 80mph brought particularly heavy rain to southern England and Wales, with a swathe from Dorset to Kent recording near 3 inches of falling rain.

In Devon, a man was swept away in a river after widespread flooding in across southern England.

There were also extensive power cuts with around 50,000 homes remaining without power through the Christmas period.

Rail services were cancelled due to fallen trees and Gatwick Airport was affected by flooding.

A man ferries a local resident by boat though flooding in Berkshire. Credit: Reuters

  • 28th October 2013 (St Jude’s Day storm)

Winds gusted across parts of SE England with 99mph being recorded at the Needles, Isle of Wight.

This storm was within the top 10 most severe autumn storms across southern England - but certainly not in the same category as 1987.

Four people were killed in Kent, Watford and west London.

There was severe disruption to transport networks with train services suspended, reduced flights, disruption on roads, and ferry services cancelled, and over 600,000 homes were left without power as branches brought down power lines.

A fallen pine which was over 100 years old at Kew Gardens after the 1990 storm. Credit: PA

  • Burn’s Day storm 1990

The Burn's Day storm of 25-26th January 1990 saw an intense storm move across southern Scotland bringing severe gales, fallen trees and damage to buildings and power supplies across much of England and Wales.

Forty-seven people died in the UK and another 36 on the Continent.

Many sites in southern England recorded their highest ever maximum wind speeds for January and February. Heathrow airport had winds of 87mph.

A train plunges into the River Towy in Wales after the bridge is swept away in the Great Storm. Credit: PA

  • The Storm of 1987

‘The Great Storm’ of 16 October 1987 tracked across the south and south-east of England, causing 18 fatalities.

Millions of trees were lost and there was severe disruption to transport and infrastructure, primarily across southern parts of the UK.

Shoreham by Sea in West Sussex had winds of 86mph at 4am, with gusts of 115mph recorded at 7am.