After a tornado caused havoc during Storm Gerrit in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, the community has come together to provide support. The tornado resulted in roofs being torn off houses and walls collapsing. Hill Top Farm, run by Joyce Bromley, suffered serious damage when the roof was ripped off her barn, leaving her animals exposed to the elements. She expressed fear for her life during the storm.
However, many local people have rallied round to help clean up the aftermath. Bromley reported that others from the community would be helping out later, and this communal support is helping to restore some sense of normality after the devastation. Anthony Kearns, a roofer, described the damage from the storm as the worst he had seen in 30 years of his work and said it was “quite freaky how it’s happened”.
Tornadoes are uncommon in the UK. The tornado that hit Stalybridge is believed to have been caused by a “supercell” thunderstorm. The Met Office said that one of these thunderstorms crossed Greater Manchester and had a “strong rotating updraft,” which suggested “a tornado at the surface was likely.” Millbrook and Carrbrook were the areas most affected with heavy rain and wind.
Storm Gerrit also brought flooding and travel disruptions elsewhere in the UK, with Scotland being worst affected. The country saw train cancellations and closed roads due to flooding, highlighting the importance of community support during such difficult times
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