Record-breaking winds blast Europe in the worst storm in decades

The United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, and parts of the Netherlands and France face their worst storm in over three decades as gusts of up to 122 mph (196 km/h) were recorded in England Friday.

Thousands of homes have been left without power as a storm with wind, snow and heavy rain battered coastal regions around the Atlantic Archipelago and Europe's western coast.

The previous record of 118 mph (190 km/h) was set in 1979 at Gwennap Head, Cornwall, according to the Met Office. The highest mountain in the U.K. experienced a wind speed of 173 mph in 1986.

The 20 most destructive hurricanes to hit the US.

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU...

This is the highest gust ever recorded in England, according to the U.K. Met Office.

Millions have been urged to stay indoors, as one man, a 60-year-old council worker in Ireland, was killed by a falling tree, and a woman was seriously injured after being struck by flying roof tiles. Three people have been killed in the U.K. after their cars were hit by debris. Five people are said to have been killed by the storm in mainland Europe.

The storm has left tens of thousands of homes without power in the UK. The O2 arena in London had its fabric roof shredded by record-breaking winds, as well as part of a spire from a cathedral, and the central tower from a power station.

Scientists have warned against linking the severity of the storm to climate change. While climate change is making coastal storm surge and extreme rainfalls more likely, there is limited evidence that winds themselves are being worsened. Climate scientists can't link an event to the changing climate on their own.

There are enough already serious and self-evident impacts of climate change happening without being over-egged and linking each and every event to climate change.

Suzanne Gray, a storm researcher at the University of Reading, says that a rare weather phenomenon that occurs when a narrow ribbon of air descends at speeds of more than 100 may result in further damage. The Great Storm of 1987 claimed 18 lives and was the last time a sting jet formed in the U.K.

The record-breaking storm brought unexpected popularity to a live YouTube channel that streams planes landing in London. More than 200,000 people watched the live stream of passenger jets attempting to land in the 70 mph winds on Friday. As the pilots made their landings, Jerry Dyer, the streamer and amateur aviation enthusiast, shouted "go on, son, fair play mate" and "bosh!"

It was originally published on Live Science.