A powerful storm packing strong, gusty winds as it moves through Britain has left thousands of customers without power in Wales and England, sparked warnings for heavy rain and flooding and disrupted train services ahead of the New Year's long weekend.
A possible tornado damaged some homes in Greater Manchester, England, leaving more than 3,000 homes without power at times on Thursday, officials said.
Police and fire officials in the Greater Manchester area said they received numerous reports late Wednesday of “significant damage” to buildings that may have been struck by a small-scale tornado. Firefighters worked throughout the night and early morning, officials said.
Officials in Tameside, England, a district west of Manchester, said Thursday that officials were clearing debris and fallen trees. Photos showed that roofs were blown off and many people were forced from their homes. No injuries were reported, the police said in a statement.
While tornadoes are not uncommon in Britain – on average about 30 are reported each year – they often touch down in sparsely populated areas or are short-lived and cause little or no damage, said Stephen Dixon, a spokesman for the UK Meteorological Office. Britain experienced more major storms in the period from September 1 to the end of December than in any other year since storm naming began in 2015, he added.
The storm, dubbed “Gerrit” by the Met Office, also caused destruction in other parts of Britain. National Grid said more than 800 homes in Wales were without power on Thursday. Train cancellations and delays were also recorded.
Further severe weather is expected across the UK in the coming days, with strong winds and heavy rain expected as another low pressure area moves in from the west. said Mr. Dixon.
“It has been a unsettled period of weather for the UK but it is not unusual for us to see this type of wind and rain,” he added.
According to the Met Office, this year has been the hottest year on record in the UK, with temperatures rising due to climate change. December was unusually mild and wet, but not record-breaking: Britain received 20 percent more rain than average and northern England received 40 percent more rain than average.
The average temperature in the UK this month was 1.6 degrees Celsius (4.9 degrees Fahrenheit) above average, with the average temperature being around 42 degrees Fahrenheit.
The warmest day of the year occurred in September, the fifth time on record, the Met Office said.