The times big storms have devastated Wales in the past

If you're of a certain age then you will remember the following like it was yesterday...

"Earlier on today apparently a woman rang the BBC and said she'd heard there was a hurricane on the way. If you're watching, don't worry, there isn't."

These were the immortal words uttered by BBC weatherman Michael Fish just hours before the UK was battered by the worst storms in living memory back in October 1987.

The great storm of 1987 battered most of the UK with Wales hit hard. as you can see from these photographs.

Irene Graham inspects damage to her home in Llandysul (Mirrorpix)

John Walsh and his family clear up at Mill House, Fishguard. More than 20,000 householders were under orders to boil all drinking water after supplies became contaminated (Mirrorpix)

In what were said to be the worst storms for almost 300 years, houses were damaged by flooding and among the badly-hit areas were Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

The Piper Tomahawk aircraft, owned by the Cambrian Flying Club was blown over at Cardiff Airport (Mirrorpix)

It wasn't just homes that were damaged - an aircraft at Cardiff Airport was actually blown over as the gales were so strong.

And so many cars that had been left parked in the streets or on garage forecourts were submerged in water.

Great Storm of 1987, this picture shows flooding October 1987. (Mirrorpix)

The car park is awash at Nolton Haven, on the Pembrokeshire coast. Two men battle against the turbulent tide -October 1987. (Mirrorpix)

A flooded garage in Wales following the storms of October 1987 (Mirrorpix)

The centre of Haverfordwest was sealed off after 5ft of floodwater swept through the centre of town when the River Cleddau burst its banks.

The scene in Haverfordwest (Mirrorpix)

A man enjoys a drink despite the storms of October 1987 (Mirrorpix)

But people remained in good spirits despite the devastation and some were even pictured braving the flood water to enjoy a drink in their local pub.

Their feet were wet but people were still able to smile in west Wales following the floods - October 1987. (Mirrorpix)

People enjoy a drink in their local pub despite the storms that hit Wales (Mirrorpix)

Three years later, severe storms struck again and Porthcawl saw its fair share of devastation.

Beach Road in Porthcawl after the storms in February 1990 (Media Wales)

Also during the storm in 1990, one caravan park in Towyn in Conwy was left devastated.

A rescue helicopter flies over a flooded caravan park and railway during flooding in Conwy (Tim Graham/Getty Images)

Fast forward to 2006 and Porthcawl harbour bore the brunt of severe gales, where waves battered the outer wall, leaving repair costs as high as £100,000.

During the bad weather and heavy swell, a portion of the outer stone cladding fell into the harbour.

Storm damage at Porthcawl harbour in September 2006 (Media Wales)

And how could we forget the devastation that South Wales felt in the aftermath of Storm Dennis in February 2020.

The storm exactly two years ago had a particularly devastaing impact on Pontypridd as the pictures below of the town centre show.

Sion Street, Pontypridd after the River Taff burst its banks overnight in February 2020 (Richard Swingler/WalesOnline)

Pontypridd's High Street flooded after Storm Dennis in February 2020 (Richard Swingler/WalesOnline)

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