the main headlines. afghan officials say nearly 60 people have been killed in two separate suicide attacks on mosques. in the first, the bomber entered a shia mosque in kabul. a second attack targeted a mosque in ghor province. european union leaders have concluded their summit in brussels with an agreement to prepare for talks about a future trade deal with the uk. the eu says that rumours of deadlock in brexit negotiations are simply not true. police in brazil have arrested more than 100 people in the biggest operation ever against paedophiles in latin america. the suspects were accessed through the dark web. the world health organization has appointed president robert mugabe of zimbabwe as a "goodwill ambassador" to help tackle non—communicable diseases. critics say that during his 37—year rule, health services in zimbabwe have sharply deteriorated. now on bbc news, "michael fish: the great storm and me."

iam i am michael fish, and i was a bbc weatherman for over a0 years. i am michael fish, and i was a bbc weatherman for over 40 years. a lot of snow in eastern parts of the country overnight and still are lot to come. in october, 1987, i drove an austin micro. we gave forecast in fahrenheit as well as celsius. nothing but bad news, iam fahrenheit as well as celsius. nothing but bad news, i am afraid. trouble with the wind, you might say. and then, of course, there was this. earlier on, a woman rang the bbc and said there is a hurricanes on the way, if you are watching, don't worry, there isn't. on the way, if you are watching, don't worry, there isn'tli on the way, if you are watching, don't worry, there isn't. i have become forever linked with what followed. the worst storms for hundreds of years he'd uk this morning, killing dozens of people

and bringing the whole south—east to and bringing the whole south—east to a halt. gales of over 100 miles per hour smashed buildings and caused millions of pounds of damage. there was no warning. in fact, 18 people lost their lives in what was the biggest storm to hit britain since 1703. there was a wall of cloud approaching from the west. we can actually see it coming towards us. the waves were going crazy. actually see it coming towards us. the waves were going crazyfi actually see it coming towards us. the waves were going crazy. it is still the most talked about whether eventin still the most talked about whether event in a generation. —— weather. this shows what looks like someone emptying a box of matches. it took weeks to clear up. for the past 30 yea rs i have weeks to clear up. for the past 30 years i have taken the flak for getting this forecast wrong. so i am ona getting this forecast wrong. so i am on a myth busting mission to try to set the record straight. if you

cannot forecast the worst storm for several centuries three hours before they happen, what are you doing? hurricanes a completely different, they do not occur in the uk. based oi'i they do not occur in the uk. based on the story is told, you have to explain that. -- you told. thank you. not a pretty picture. a lot of snow. when i started at the bbc, things were very different. there were no computer graphics and no weather satellites. sunny. let's do it again. behind me, another area of low pressure which will trouble things. by 1987, the dodgy suits we re things. by 1987, the dodgy suits were a thing of the past. some basic satellite imagery was giving us a taste of the future. back then, we relied mainly on weather balloons and ships out in the atlantic

telling us what was heading our way. which leads me myth number one. that we had no idea any sort of storm was coming. the truth is we didn't know that stormy weather was out there, but did not think it was coming our way. even a week before, there were signs of bad weather in the atlantic. it was so bad, the ship we normally relied on for weather observations had cleared out of the area, meaning that we had even less data coming in. the data we did have was fed into this computer. and the models run a few days before the storm showed its tracking east across france. —— it. we were concerned about recent floods. but by thursday morning, there were only very light winds of the uk. and no

sign that the depression brewing in the bay of biscay would actually come oui’ the bay of biscay would actually come our way. nothing to stop this high school of 87 going on a geography field trip. the waves have cut through the rhinestone and formed this small hole. the head of geography had spotted something coming towards the coast will be for the experts at the met office. we are actually at the southern end of the bank. we were surveying the beach. and the sky was just incredible. this man was also a keen geography teacher and films this footage. the air was completely different to anything i have experienced. it was so full of moisture. it was warm and speak.

there was a wall of cloud approaching from the west. —— and thick. we could see it coming towards us. but we did not know what was going to happen that night. we had no idea at all. we knew it was windy, because of the children were doing their geography fieldwork, they were getting knocked over. so, while the geography class was discussing longshore drift, i was giving my faithful forecast just after the lunchtime news. —— fateful. a woman has run the bbc and said there is a hurricane coming, don't worry, there isn't. myth number two, don't worry, there isn't. myth numbertwo, idid don't worry, there isn't. myth numbertwo, i did not don't worry, there isn't. myth number two, i did not forecast strong winds. having said that, the wind is definitely windy. but most of it will be in spain and france. there is low pressure on the doorstep around brittany. there we 90, doorstep around brittany. there we go, a vicious looking area of low pressure. and if nothing else, a lot

of rain. what i did not know was the storm was changing direction and heading straight for dorset. as the waves. . . heading straight for dorset. as the waves... after a windy afternoon on the beach, the class of 87 went back to the caravan site. they said it would be windy, but not too extreme. the weather forecast the geography teachers watched was not me. bill was on that evening, so bang goes myth number three. and his forecast was no better than mine. that is what the situation was like earlier this evening. it is associated with this evening. it is associated with this low pressure area. a few days ago, it went further west, this low pressure area. a few days ago, it went furtherwest, bringing strong winds to the country. now it looks like many will stay away, though it will be breezy up through the channel and in the east of the

country. breezy up the channel. the class of 87 would soon learn that both of the forecasts were way off. i have come to the coast of werthing beach to meet the teachers and grown—up pupils. beach to meet the teachers and grown-up pupils. it was a windy night. a crazy night. as soon as the ca rava n night. a crazy night. as soon as the caravan moved off the supports, we thought we cannot risk that. caravan moved off the supports, we thought we cannot risk thatm literally lept thought we cannot risk thatm literally le pt up thought we cannot risk thatm literally lept up in the air and started to roll down the hill. before it got very far, i was out the door and i was knocking on everybody's caravan the door and i was knocking on eve rybody's caravan door. the door and i was knocking on everybody's caravan door. we put all of the kids into two buses and drove them down the hill. you knew about it before i did. you were chatting with your friends when you should have been in bed. we thought it was

getting windy so we looked out the window and actually saw one of the caravans go over. she ran to one of the teachers who knew about it already. i'll look in the caravan and it was pitch black. i remember that feeling of oh my god is anyone in there? what did you experience? i was 15 and we were in the minibuses. there was a lot of debris. a piece of corrugated roof came off and hit the side of the minibus we were in. we all jumped out the side of the minibus we were in. we alljumped out of our skin. it was absolutely terrifying. what about you, martin? we were being evacuated and had to drive along the coastal front. the waves were going over the minibuses. the key to driving mine said i cannot see the other is so lets just floor it! floor it! by 3am on friday the 16th,

a storm had gone through dorset, hampshire, the isle of wight, and then hit london and the south—east. the worst of the storm went through essex and norfolk. by midday, it was heading out to the north sea. across much of the south and eastern england, people were waking up to entirely new landscapes. device this morning is very much take great care. “— morning is very much take great care. —— the advice. morning is very much take great care. -- the advice. back in this area, the field trip survivors were sifting through what was left of the ca rava ns sifting through what was left of the caravans for their belongings. my maestro is taking me across the root of the storm. —— route. the results

we re of the storm. —— route. the results were unthinkable. the south was that a complete standstill. next up, wakehurst. now a complete standstill. next up, wa kehurst. now it a complete standstill. next up, wakehurst. now it is home to dave, who has lived here his whole life. he woke up to a picture of devastation. 20,000 trees out there. there was nothing there after the storm. there was one sycamore tree left. david and his team got busy with chainsaws. it was quite interesting. every time we thought it was cleared, another one would come up. troops and helicopters can to help people. it took weeks to clear it all up. —— came to help.

the gardens of this 16th century manor were wiped out in a few hours. good has come out of it. it is ironic, really. it gave us such wonderful opportunities to have investors come in and put in new plantings. 30 years on, and even in a downpour, the gardens are looking pretty splendid. still following the track of the storm, i am now heading toa track of the storm, i am now heading to a small town in kent, where losing trees did not go down well. i am here to talk about the infamous night. hello. the former mayor was a

councillor 30 years ago, and on the night of the great storm, he raced here to the site of the symbolic seven oaks and found six had been uprooted. we got up here. you have actually got a paper of it from the time? afew actually got a paper of it from the time? a few days later. amazing, isn't it? i gather one survived the storm. that one. the biggest one at the moment. so we are now eight 0aks now. the seven new ones were planted by local schoolchildren. and they area by local schoolchildren. and they are a thriving. after eight centuries, there are no plans to change the town's name from seven 0aks. change the town's name from seven oaks. i got an awful lot of stick at

the time from the people here at seven 0aks. i think they are fine with it now. back then, this was the editor of the seven 0aks chronicle. you wanted to get a plane to capture the moment of history on camera. my bosses told me not to. they said we can't afford it. i said i would pay for the aeroplane myself. but i never did get my money back from them. we flew from the hill. bob persuaded a local pilot to take him up persuaded a local pilot to take him up in the only serviceable plane. this is a photograph showing what looks like somebody has emptied matchsticks. but these in fact are a trees. later he published a book of his photos. it became a bestseller, paying the hundreds of trees to be

replanted, as well as a swimming pool replanted, as well as a swimming pool, a present from bob to his wife. some present. shall we try it? after you! but 30 years ago people wanted to know why as weather forecasters hadn't seen this coming. with a blea ry hadn't seen this coming. with a bleary eyed ian mcaskill taking the first hit. we have been forecasting high winds and gales relentlessly since sunday. we admit we weren't forecasting hurricane force winds and that's what we got. and it wasn't long before the media latched onto my unfortunate choice of words. earlier on today apparently a woman rang the bbc and said she heard there's a hurricane on the way. if you're watching, the worry, there isn't. if i had you're watching, the worry, there isn't. ifi had a penny for you're watching, the worry, there isn't. if i had a penny for every

time that video was shown i'd be a multimillionaire by now. and what the world and his wife wanted to know was who was that mystery woman? time for myth number four. when michael fish came on the tv he did say a lady had phoned in. well of course that was my mother, doris, who is 94 now. that was of course a spoof, though over the years various papers claim to have tracked down the mysterious caller. more on that particular myth later. there is no doubt my gaffe has provided rich pickings for comedians. remember the three ps? poise, purpose and porpoise. cousin to the dolphin. this comedian is touring with his

i—man show, hurricane michael, about me and our national obsession with the weather. it's like it's a family member. some mornings you get up and it is raining again and you are like, oh, how could you? this is the sixth day running! sleight of hand on heart, increasing intensity, sporadicjazz hands. on heart, increasing intensity, sporadic jazz hands. the on heart, increasing intensity, sporadicjazz hands. the 80s had conspiracy theories and one of the stories doing the rounds was that the storm was due to a russian weather machine that they created the communists. it must have been a good weather machine. the wind speeds here were the highest recorded, 150 mph. and if you think that's a tall story... it was two days before my wedding and we woke up days before my wedding and we woke up with the air raid siren going, so we thought the world had come to an end! i had this extreme verge,

desire, to go out and fly —— urge. in the wind. i didn't. see? russian mind control. and time to bust myth numberfive. mind control. and time to bust myth number five. i said mind control. and time to bust myth numberfive. i said there mind control. and time to bust myth number five. i said there wasn't a hurricane on the way. then, just hours later, parts of britain were hit by the worst for several hundreds of years. i've come the new broadcasting house in london, home to the bbc‘s weather centre. so, why is it really a hurricane? i am meeting someone who should know the. bbc weatherman thomas. 0nly eight yea rs old bbc weatherman thomas. 0nly eight years old in 1987, he is now a hurricane expert, just back from florida. hurricane irma holds the record for managing to sustain category five longer than any other

hurricane in recorded history. now that's a hurricane! back on the relative calm of the weather centre, i'm hoping tom can help me out. please, if i give you can quit, will you back me up. mine was not a hurricane. you're absolutely right. it was not a hurricane. hurricanes are completely different weather systems. they don't occur here in the uk, they have to happen over tropical waters. but the one in 87 still produced hurricane strength winds, so you don't have to have a hurricane to make hurricane force winds. it can still be nasty. thank you, tom. more from you later. in 1987 there was another hurricane threatening florida. that's why we expect floyd to take a turn to the right. hurricane floyd was circling the gulf of mexico a few days before

the gulf of mexico a few days before the storm here. which brings us nicely back to myth number four. the storm here. which brings us nicely back to myth numberfour. the woman who rang the bbc. the great michael fisher! give him a round of applause. after the show we do a question about that. a chance to set the record straight. —— question and answer. there was no woman caller, i made corrupt. a studio cameraman told me his mum was worrying about flying to the caribbean. —— i made her up. she asked about a hurricane that was off the florida coast and she was anxious about going on holiday, whether it would affect her. i assured holiday, whether it would affect her. iassured her holiday, whether it would affect her. i assured her it wasn't and it just happens to be on the back of my mind that it was a live broadcast, so this slipped out at the time. slightly unfortunate! good timing. ah, we're all laughing now, but at

the time while we were on television as weather forecasters were discouraged from talking to the media about what happened. even as the repairs and mopping up get under way, people were asking, why weren't we warned? didn't the weathermen know there was such as fierce storm on the way? time to answer those questions now at the met office's swa nky questions now at the met office's swanky headquarters. i am meeting my former colleague, a senior forecaster at the time, though not exactly forecaster at the time, though not exa ctly o n forecaster at the time, though not exactly on shift on the day of my infamous appearance. 30 years is a long time. it seems like yesterday. we've asked to see old satellite photographs, hand drawn weather maps and written reports. to see if there are any signs that were missed all those years ago. they talked a lot

about heavy rain. do you remember there was flooding? rather than the actual winds. that's right. bill didn't mention the winds at all. there were some mornings. we have here tuesday the 13th, storm force winds on thursday and friday. and then on wednesday we have an angry speu then on wednesday we have an angry spell coming. for those days even backin spell coming. for those days even back in 1987, that's quite emotive words. it is. you wouldn't have expected it to be used. what's disappointing is that message from the sunday got lost. the story has been told, you can't go back and explain because at the end of the day the message did not get across the night before. no. but nowadays i would like to think that angry spell would like to think that angry spell would somehow come across. these

days they might issue a warning five days they might issue a warning five daysin days they might issue a warning five days in advance and continue rolling right the way through the period. absolutely. so there'd be no getting away from it. absolutely. 1987 became a turning point. these days computers can crunch 200 billion sets of observation today. the results are sent to the bbc forecasters, like tom, to translate into an accurate forecast. the wind rattled our windows last night... 0ne rattled our windows last night... one of the things we heavily rely on is running the computer model multiple times so that we get lots of different results and the reason why we do that is because we feed the computer with slightly different information, slightly higher temperature, a slightly stronger wind, but only by a fraction. we get lots of results and if all the results are more or less pointing to a big storm or a spell of settled weather, we are confident that we've got the right answer. do you think

you could pick it up today, the way technology has advanced ?|j you could pick it up today, the way technology has advanced? i think you would be able to pick up a storm like the 87 one. you would see it on a satellite image. there's something like a sting jet, a clear marker. you can see from space are particular cloud feature. they are the very shortly dad often don't happen in london. they often don't strike big cities and usually happen off the north—west coast of scotland. but they are more understood now dating back in 87, evenif understood now dating back in 87, even if you saw it on the satellite image you wouldn't know what it was because it was poorly understood and even when i was at university the sting jet wasn't well known. so, backin sting jet wasn't well known. so, back in the archives of the met office... was there a sting in the tail on those early satellite images? look at that zone. that's what we call the sting jet now. very powerful low—level winds. it is three o'clock in the morning.|j

think three o'clock in the morning.” think the storm is at its peak. it was. this powerful winds would mean speeds of up to 50— 60 mph. cost in excess of 100, battering the south coast. and if we go back and look at bill's forecast. the satellite picture shows the british isles. there's the steam jet, staring us in the face. the important thing at the time, no one discussed sting jet. only with hindsight that that theory has developed, around the 90s ought to thousands, but when you actually analyse the great storm, there is this dynamic side to what we call the sting jet. there you go. it wasn't the russians, it wasn't me andi wasn't the russians, it wasn't me and i can't even blame bill any more. it was a sting jet that did it

and if another one comes along i'm confident that next time we will all get plenty of warning. so, at long last my mission is complete. i won't be needing this any more. in fact, i see an area of high pressure coming along. yes, believe it or not, dry, sunny spells, light winds and very warm indeed. what more could you want? oh, no! hi there. today's weather is brought to you courtesy of storm brian. let's take a look. over the last 24 hours it has rapidly developed. the strongest winds have been out to sea and as the storm crosses the british isles it will gradually weakened. a slow process and the winds will remain pretty strong and gusty throughout saturday. we have a band of rain for the early rises. still lingering in

north—east scotland. there or thereabouts towards the eastern coast of england. plenty of showers out west and it is in this showery air mass that we will have a fairly strong gusts of wind working in. given it's a blowy start the day, it will be mild. 10—13 degrees for early rises. some of the strongest winds will be targeting the coast of south—west england and wales. gusts of 50—60 mph. maybe a few isolated gusts of up to 70 mph. one concern is that those strong winds could coincide with high tides, so we could see some localised surface water flooding impacts. inland typically up to 50 mph. that will blow lots of leaves off the trees. maybe some small tree branches coming down. the winds picking up later in the afternoon and towards the evening across north wales and north—west england as we see a lengthier spell of rain here. again the winds could reach up to 60 mph. perhaps a touch stronger on some of the exposed areas. for the most part on saturday brian

will bring fairly typical weather for an autumn day. heading through the night time, the low pressure works out into the north sea and we have showers or even lengthy spells of rain working particularly into north—west england overnight. still blowy. 9—10 degrees. for sunday, as brian works out into the north sea over the coming days it will die. so that's the life of brian and looking on the bright side of life on sunday there will be fewer showers. the winds turning lighter. coming in from a north—westerly direction. it is cooler. temperature wise, between 10—14 degrees. what with fewer showers you have a better chance of getting away with lengthy and drier spells of weather. the north—westerly winds are shortly. by monday, most winds back to the south—west, with the exception of the far north of scotland. south—westerly winds dragging in mild air. temperatures up to 16—17 degrees. that mild theme stays with us.

the best sunny spells in north—eastern areas initially. that's your weather. hello. this is bbc news. i'm kasia madera. our top stories: suicide attacks on two mosques in afghanistan have killed nearly 60 worshippers. brazilian police arrest more than 100 people, in the biggest operation ever against paedophiles in latin america. eu leaders agree to begin preparing for the next phase of brexit talks, covering trade. how much of a breakthrough is it? shocking footage showing sloths being dragged from the rainforest so they can be used in tourists' holiday selfies.

and we get a preview of items from the ill—fated titanic, expected to reach record prices when they're auctioned off this weekend.