Amidst Storm Gerrit: Suspected tornado strikes Tameside

A tornado struck the Greater Manchester area amidst Storm Gerrit, damaging several homes.

Approximately 100 homes in Stalybridge, in the Tameside area of Greater Manchester, were damaged on Wednesday night, 27th December, with reports of a suspected tornado developing.

The Met Office have confirmed a supercell and mesocyclone in the region at the time, while TORRO, the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation, are currently investigating whether it was indeed an official tornado that caused the damage.

Several signatures developed on the WeatherRadar to indicate something ominous, including a hook and bow echo.

A hook, as seen above, is a classic radar signature associated with severe thunderstorms and is a key indicator that a mesocyclone, a rotating updraft within a thunderstorm may be present.

A bow echo also moved across the Irish Sea into North Wales earlier in the evening, possibly part of the same supercell system, which produced gusts of up to 88mph at Mona, Anglesey.

A bow echo is another distinctive radar signature. It is a radar reflectivity pattern that resembles the shape of an archer's bow. They are often indicative of strong and potentially winds.

Bow echoes are more commonly linked to straight-line winds, however, tornadoes can occasionally develop within or near the bowing segment.