Despite warnings that Storm Eunice would be destructive, we never thought it would hit so close to home. On Friday 18th of February, dawn provided few clues as to what nature had in store for the UK later that day. By midday, winds reached a record high of 122mph and was like a scene from The Wizard of Oz: trees, trampolines and road signs flying into the sky.

In West Dulwich, a 60 ft ancient oak tree fell from Pymers Mead across the entire width of Croxted Road. The impact crushed two parked cars and its branches stopped just short of the opposite house's front door, causing the road to be shut down for hours while firemen frantically tried to clear the way. 

Jeremy Taylor, a shocked bystander, recalls: "I was walking the dog when up ahead cars began making U-turns and darting down side roads. I wondered what the commotion was all about and came across the fallen tree blocking the main road. The no. 3 bus route was diverted up Dalkeith Road causing huge inconvenience for many people. Luckily there were no casualties as a result of this incident."

The storm caused bedlam across Britain, causing 3 deaths, power cuts for 1.1 million properties and 20 million people told to stay at home. There were 10 severe flood warnings, 10,000 cancelled rail services and 1,000 people were evacuated from the O2 arena when the strong winds ripped the canvas roof from the structure.

A month later, the aftermath of Storm Eunice is still taking its toll. Damage to housing and countless fallen trees in parks and other green spaces have had a huge financial impact on Britain's local councils and certainly poses the question as to whether climate change is to blame for such extreme weather events.