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1987 Great Storm - 25 years on
There can be little doubt that the 'Great Storm' of 15th and 16th October 1987 remains one of the most talked about weather events for a generation.
This was a catalyst for a programme of investment and improvement in the science, technology and communication of forecasting which has transformed the way the UK responds to severe weather.
Ewen McCallum, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "It sometimes takes your darkest hour for a professional organisation to learn lessons and we have learnt many lessons. The science, technology and the way we communicate has come a long way since 1987."
The Met Office is undoubtedly a world leader in weather forecasting but storms like those seen in 1987 still present significant forecasting challenges.
Improvements seen since 1987 are part of a continuing effort to push the boundaries of forecasting to provide ever better guidance, and that will continue into the future as we improve the accuracy of our forecasts and warnings even further.
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The 1987 Great Storm infographic
A graphic representation of the events of the Great Storm and its forecasting legacy.
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How accurate are our public forecasts?
How accurate are we and what measures do we use to check the accuracy of forecasts.
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1953 east coast flood
The 31 January marks the 60th anniversary of the East coast floods - described as the worst national peacetime disaster to hit the UK.
