Great Gale of 16th November 1928: 23 killed

[Weather-history]

The great gale of 16th November 1928 was one of the worst gales to hit the south of the British Isles during the first half of the 20th century, In London, it was said to be the worst gale for 12 years. 

 

Wind speed gusts (mph)

Cardington: 90

Croydon: 82 

Lympne: 79

Birmingham: 72

Chester: 72

Winchester: 71

Kew: 65

The barometer fell as low as 959mb at Holyhead and 961mb near Hull

The gale damage was enormous with one of the more famous victims being the statue of Richard the Lionheart outside the Houses of Parliament, the sword being snapped off in the wind. 

 

 

[A Face like Thunder]

How very strange. Philip Eden refers to 'severe gales' on 23rd and 25th November 1928 but not to this gale ten days earlier. I wonder why not. Not a good year for London as a storm surge and resulting flooding in early January 1928 led to 14 people drowning in and around the capital.