Storm Force Winds -1987 and 2022

The winds yesterday were strong and indeed the Met Office issued a red weather warning for London. The first time that I can recall such a weather warning affecting London SW20.

However  although there were no such weather warnings in 1987, as it happens we lived at the same address then as we do now so can make a direct comparison.

In 2022 scientific advances are such that even before the storm formed in the Atlantic Ocean, the Met Office could predict that such a storm would form and hit  southern regions of the country forty eight hours later. Many did not believe then that there would be a storm given the relatively calm conditions during the following two days and indeed at 6:45 am just before the winds increased.

In 1987 however, there were no such storm warnings. I recall leaving home to travel to work only to find that no trains or underground were running from Wimbledon Station which compares with the few that did run  in yesterday's storm. 

In 1987 I then walked to South Wimbledon, a deep underground station on the Northern Line. Enroute  I passed by the level crossing on the pre-tramlink railway line, where trees had fallen across the crossing gates. 

The Northern and Victoria Underground lines in 1987, were fine though the trail of devastation from Vauxhall to the old Witham Weld offices in Pimlico was substantial. In St George's Square SW1 trees had blown down all over the gardens with much damage done though fortunately, not to the houses surrounding the Square. In 2022  a fence and garden gates at home were bowled over like balsa wood. The fencing was of course much newer in 1987.

Walking up to Wimbledon Common, huge tree branches had been blown down and  were blocking The Downs, Cannizzaro Park gates were shut as were the gates to the Common car parks. The latter made for a far more enjoyable walk than usual, as there were few others enjoying the fresh afternoon on the Common. After walking for 30 minutes I came across a young man with a camera. He told me that he had been sitting on the nearby bench since 8am and had photographed two trees falling. He like myself found the wind and relative emptiness of the Common to be bracing. 

Should we have been out and about given the danger? One has to take a personal view about that. Of the three  tragic deaths reported yesterday in England two were of car drivers so only one would have been a hiker. I recall too the stay at home messages at the beginning of the pandemic and indeed when benches on Wimbledon Common were taped off as sitting down was prohibited. Such rules were so obviously absurd that I did not bother with them. Again a personal decision which is why I have more sympathy than most for Downing Street parties. The absurd rules did emanate  from there but on erroneous medical advice, which point is rarely mentioned in the newspapers' moans.