ADVERTISEMENTThe high winds that battered Britain on Monday has evoked memories of a huge storm 26 years ago and the gaffe surrounding it.
At least 22 people died overnight on 15 October 1987 when winds of up to 122mph (196km/h) lashed the country.
But what many remember is weather forecaster Michael Fish appearing on television in the hours leading up to the storm, laughing off suggestions of a hurricane.
In fact it was Britain’s most destructive storm for 300 years.
And, in light of St Jude’s Storm, he was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday morning.
He revealed the latest storm had seen winds fell a birch tree in his garden, joking it was some kind of revenge for that prediction 26 years ago.
He said: “I had a phone call from my wife not so long ago, and of course it was my fault that a tree has apparently gone down in my garden and over the neighbour’s garage.
“So even I don’t escape – and I can hear some of you saying, ‘Serves him right!’”