Tornado rips through Manchester causing ‘significant damage’
Storm Gerrit has brought havoc across the UK with 80mph winds as a part of Manchester was battered by what is believed to be a tornado.
More than 100 homes in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, had their roofs torn apart by the freak winds by 11.45pm.
Many residents were forced to leave their homes and no injuries were reported.
Councillor David Sweeton for Dukinfield/Stalybridge ward who lives in the impacted area spoke to Metro about the unfolding incident.
‘In all my 60 years I’ve lived here I’ve never heard wind like it,’ he said.
‘The wind itself lasted for about 20 seconds and then it was all over but the devastation it has left behind is unbelievable.
‘It was bin day for local residents so the streets are littered with glass and waste.
‘I couldn’t sleep once the storm hit so I started checking emails which was when I realised the scale of this storm.
‘The council has been working with fire, ambulance and police services and we are happy to report no one has been injured by this storm which is a miracle.
‘I am proud of Tameside Council and the community for stepping up and anyone impacted is welcome at the local town hall for a warm safe space.’
Chief Superintendent Mark Dexter from GMP said: ‘This incident has undoubtedly affected numerous people in the Stalybridge area with many residents displaced from their properties during the night.
‘Our highest priority is keeping people safe which is why we are advising those who have been displaced not to return or enter their properties which have significant damage until they have been assessed by structural engineers.
‘I would also like to urge members of the public to avoid the area where possible and take extra care when travelling in vehicles on the roads in Stalybridge and the surrounding areas, due to debris in the road.’
Shadgiz, from Stalybridge, posted about the tornado on X and wrote: ‘Just had a mini twister come down our cul de sac, took out back passenger windows on mine and neighbours cars. took a tree down onto the house next door and took the roof partially off two houses at the end of the culd de sac, fire brigade on scene.’
A neighbour told the MEN that it sounded like a bomb was going off at the time.
Another resident Matthew Marsland said: ‘I heard an extreme noise at my back window last night. I was stood at my back door and there was a crazy sound of noise and then vibrations through the glass.
‘I looked out of the window and saw a bit of debris, thought I’d go out, pick a few bits up, and then thought I’ll do the rest of it tomorrow.
‘I saw a piece of tree in my neighbour’s garden with half his house torn off and a gutter in the middle of the street.
‘The whole thing must have been 25 to 30 seconds and then that was it.’
Meanwhile the storm has caused havoc across the travel network and left thousands without power.
Fallen trees, branches and other debris brought down power lines in Scotland as high winds, along with heavy rain and snow, damaged electricity networks across the country.
Scotland has experienced heavy snow while Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said workers tried to reconnect customers following the storm.
A yellow warning for wind and snow remains in place until 6am today in Shetland.
SSEN said power had been restored to 25,000 properties with a further 16,000 homes entering today without power.
An SSEN spokesman said: ‘The widespread extent of the damage, the ongoing adverse weather conditions, and the challenges accessing faults due to fallen trees, flooding and road closures, together mean that full network restoration will take time.
‘Some customers in rural areas may be off supply for up to 48 hours.’
The A9 in Scotland has fully reopened and is ‘passable with care’ after snow blocked the road between Drumochter and Dalwhinnie.
The A90 northbound in Scotland has also reopened after earlier closures, but southbound lanes at Lochlands, Forfar, remain off-limits with local diversions in place.
Inspector Michelle Burns said: ‘Conditions for travel in the affected areas may be hazardous and extra caution should be exercised by all road users.’
Across Scotland’s railways network there has also been cancellations as a train driver’s cabin was hit by a falling tree.
Passengers in the train were unharmed and Aslef Scotland confirmed the driver was uninjured.
ScotRail has suspended multiple train services until further notice, while other lines saw their timetables shelved until ‘a full inspection can be carried out’ on the railway network.
People stranded were told to book hotels which they can claim back.
Customers travelling between London and Scotland on LNER services have been advised not to travel.
Avanti West Coast confirmed its route to Scotland is also impassable with all services to and from London terminating at Preston.
Those with pre-booked tickets between Preston and either Edinburgh or Glasgow can board trains on Thursday or Friday, the operator said.
Heathrow Airport has cancelled 18 flights because of air traffic control restrictions to destinations like Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey and Manchester, and to Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid and Paris today.
80mm of rain has also been recorded at the Great Langdale Valley in the Lake District due to Storm Gerrit.
The fastest recorded wind gusts so far are 86mph at Inverbervie on the north-east coast of Scotland, 84mph at Fair Isle and 83mph at Capel Curig, north Wales.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.