Burns' Day Storm, The

The Burns' Day Storm occurred on January 25–January 26, 1990, over Northwestern Europe and is one of the strongest storms on record. Starting on the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns, it caused widespread damage and hurricane force winds over a wide area. The storm was responsible for 97 deaths according to the Met Office, although figures have ranged from 89 to over 100.

The storm began as a cold front over the Northern Atlantic Ocean on January 23. By the 24th it had a minimum central pressure of 992 mbar. It made landfall on the morning of the 25th over Northern Ireland before tracking over to Ayrshire in Scotland. The lowest pressure of 949 mbar (in line with a strong Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale) was recorded near Edinburgh around 16:00. After hitting the United Kingdom, the storm tracked rapidly east towards Denmark, causing major damage and 30 deaths in Holland and Belgium.

The strongest sustained winds recorded were between 70 and 75 mph (110-120 km/h), comparable to a weak Category 1 hurricane. Strong gusts were reported up to 104 mph (170 km/h; strong Category 2), and it was these that caused the most extensive damage.

The Met Office was praised for giving far more accurate forecasts compared to the Great Storm of 1987. Casualties were still much higher than in 1987, however, because the storm hit during the daytime. The storm caused extensive damage, with approximately 3 million trees downed, power disrupted to over 500,000 homes and severe flooding in England and West Germany. The storm cost insurers in the UK £3.37 bn, the UK's most expensive weather event.

Most of the deaths were caused by building collapses or falling debris. In one case in Sussex, a class of children was evacuated just minutes before the whole building came down. The 'Allo 'Allo! actor Gorden Kaye received severe head injuries when part of a billboard blew through the windscreen of the car he was driving.

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