Storm Gerrit – live: Thousands still without power as Met Office predicts more heavy rain ahead of New Year

File: Snow blankets Scottish towns as Met Office issues two weather warnings

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Thousands of homes remain without power as post-storm cleanup begins in the wake of Storm Gerrit.

Around 1,500 homes in Scotland experienced their second night without power while a lightning strike hit supplies in Wales.

The Met Office predict more rainfall to come ahead of New Year celebrations this weekend.

Steven Ramsdale, a Met Office Chief Forecaster said: “This system is likely to bring a range of weather including hill snow.

“Heavy rain will spread across all but the far north on Saturday affecting similar areas previously affected by Storm Gerrit. However, this rainfall will be a step down from that seen during Storm Gerrit.”

Earlier, a suspected tornado damaged roofs and smashed windows as a rare supercell thunderstorm passed over Greater Manchester overnight.

A major incident has been declared in Tameside, with 100 properties reportedly damaged by the powerful storm and debris littered across the area. The Met Office says it was likely a tornado.

Friday will see significant disruption for travellers with rail services urging passengers to check for the latest information before travelling across UK as several services remain called due to damage or system faults.

Key points

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Families rescued from flood waters in Fife

A man has shared shocking footage of a Scottish street submerged under water as rescue services saved families from their flooded homes.

James Matheson shared the scenes from 27 December on X, as Kinloss Park, Cuput, Fife was battered by heavy rain.

He said since the rainfall has stopped.

Lydia Patrick29 December 2023 08:50

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Flood warnings in place across UK

As the remnants of Storm Gerrit sweep across the UK, there are flood warnings in place as rivers overflowed with rainfall.

There are 29 flood warnings in place in England, here is a map of them:

(Met Office)

Lydia Patrick29 December 2023 08:30

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Three men killed as four-by-four submerged in River Esk

Three men have died after a vehicle plunged into the River Esk on the North York Moors National Park amid “hazardous” driving conditions in the aftermath of Storm Gerrit.

It was not exactly clear how the vehicle entered the water, but the roads had been badly affected by the storm, said North Yorkshire Police.

Police, fire, ambulance teams and air support were dispatched to the scene and the vehicle was removed from the river at around 3pm.

All three men who were inside died, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement.

Read the full story by Matt Mathers here

Lydia Patrick29 December 2023 08:00

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Watch: Houses damaged and debris scattered across roads after Manchester ‘tornado’

Houses damaged and debris scattered across roads after Manchester ‘tornado’

Matt Mathers29 December 2023 07:00

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Storm Gerrit disrupts trains and leaves thousands without power as it batters northern UK

A storm that battered the UK with high winds and heavy snow and rain damaged houses, cancelled trains and left thousands of people without electricity yesterday across Scotland and parts of northern England.

Workers faced wind speeds of 80 miles (128km) per hour in some coastal areas of Scotland as they tried to restore power that was cut off when falling branches and other debris hit utility lines.

Police in Manchester in northwest England said they received numerous reports late Wednesday of homes damaged by a brief “localised tornado.” Photos showed roofs torn from houses and cars smashed by fallen trees, and residents reported garden sheds being blown away.

Namita Singh29 December 2023 06:36

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Plane struggles to land at Heathrow airport as Storm Gerrit batters UK

Footage shows the plane coming in for a landing when winds suddenly cause the aircraft to tilt and its wing angle towards the ground.

The pilot manages to control the plane in what are very foggy and windy conditions.

Winds of up to 80mph have been recorded by the Met Office today as travel across the UK has been disrupted due to hazardous conditions.

Plane struggles to land in high winds at Heathrow airport as Storm Gerrit batters UK

Watch the moment a Boeing 777 struggles to land due to heavy winds from Storm Gerrit at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, 27 December. Footage shows the plane coming in for a landing when winds suddenly cause the aircraft to tilt and its wing angle towards the ground. The pilot manages to control the plane in what are very foggy and windy conditions. Winds of up to 80mph have been recorded by the Met Office today as travel across the UK has been disrupted due to hazardous conditions.

Matt Mathers29 December 2023 06:00

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ICYMI: Houses damaged and debris scattered across roads after ‘tornado’ rips through Manchester suburb

A “localised tornado” damaged around 100 properties in Greater Manchester as Storm Gerrit swept the country, with thousands of homes remaining without power and travellers likely to face continued disruption.

Houses damaged and debris scattered across roads after Manchester ‘tornado’

A “localised tornado” damaged around 100 properties in Greater Manchester as Storm Gerrit swept the country, with thousands of homes remaining without power and travellers likely to face continued disruption. The storm also brought heavy snow across parts of Scotland which, along with high winds and heavy rain, damaged electricity networks in the country as fallen trees, branches and other debris brought down power lines. In Stalybridge, a town in Tameside, Greater Manchester, houses were seen damaged on Thursday morning (28 December) and debris were seen scattered across roads.

Namita Singh29 December 2023 05:45

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Supercell thunderstorm moves across northwest after Greater Manchester ‘tornado’

A supercell thunderstorm has moved across northwest England after the same type of storm is thought to have resulted in a tornado that damaged homes in Greater Manchester.

The thunderstorm is moving east across Morecambe Bay and may bring hail, frequent lightning and gusty winds to parts of Lancashire, according to the Met Office.

The forecasting body said a supercell thunderstorm crossed Greater Manchester on Wednesday night and that it had a “strong rotating updraft”, which suggests “a tornado at the surface was likely”.

Namita Singh29 December 2023 05:29

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‘Supercell thunderstorms’ explained as mini tornado damages 100 Manchester homes

The Met Office confirmed that a rare supercell thunderstorm – storms defined by the deep and persistently rotating current of rising air at their centre – hit the borough of Tameside on Wednesday night, causing chaos as it pulled roofs and chimneys from houses and broke windows.

A second supercell thunderstorm also struck Lancashire’s Morecambe Bay on Thursday morning, with the Met Office warning of hail, frequent lightning and strong and gusty winds as it moved inland.

My colleague Andy Gregory has more:

Namita Singh29 December 2023 05:18

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Watch: Street in Scottish town submerged by flooding

Storm Gerrit: Street in Scottish town submerged by flooding

Matt Mathers29 December 2023 05:00

https://www.independent.co.uk/weather/storm-gerrit-weather-uk-tornado-latest-news-b2470691.html

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