Warning to Brits as Storm Gerrit 'tornado' 'rips through' 100 homes in UK town
A warning has been issued for Brits after a ‘tornado’ ‘ripped through’ 100 homes in a UK town.
Not quite Christmas joy, Storm Gerrit spread chaos across the country last night (27 December) as people hoping to travel today may face continued disruption.
Late last night, a ‘localised tornado’ damaged homes in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, police say.
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Greater Manchester Police said its officers were called to ‘numerous reports of significant damage’ to the homes as many residents were forced to leave.
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.”
People are urged to avoid the area battered by the storm.
One resident wrote on X: “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 cul de sac, fire brigade on scene.”
And that’s not the only chaos Storm Gerrit is causing as thousands of homes in Scotland are without power.
High winds caused fallen trees and other debris to bring down power lines as heavy rain and snow also damaged electricity networks across the country.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution said that over 31,500 homes had been reconnected this morning but over 14,000 remain without power.
Plus, and try to act surprised, there’s disruption to trains.
LNER previously advised customers not to travel due to the weather as Avanti West Coast stopped trains to Scotland from London, with them terminating at Preston.
Avanti said this morning that a tree falling on overhead wires between Rugby and Lichfield Trent Valley means some lines are blocked.
So now journey times for services from London Euston towards the North West are extended, as trains have to be diverted through the Midlands.
Storm Gerrit also brought a lot of rain; the Great Langdale Valley in the Lake District recorded 80mm – nearly half the usual 178mm monthly rainfall for December, the Met Office said.
And the fastest recorded wind gust so far is 86mph on the north-east coast of Scotland.
The Met Office currently has no other weather warnings in place for the UK as previous warnings ended earlier this morning.
Jess Battison