The Stalybridge areas of Millbrook and Carrbrook were the most affected by the incident – however, it was luckily confirmed from the police’s initial enquiries, as well as from the updates provided by partnering emergency services at the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) who also attended, that there have thankfully been no injuries reported.
#UPDATE | At around 11.45pm yesterday evening (Wednesday 27 December 2023), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to numerous reports of significant damage to various properties across Stalybridge in Tameside.
— Tameside North and East Police (GMP) (@GMPTamesideN) December 28, 2023
Temporary shelter and support services are currently being provided for the displaced and affected residents by Tameside Council.
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GMP is advising that anyone affected should keep a close eye on and monitor Tameside Council’s social media for advice and guidance, or call 0161 342 2222 where Council representatives will be on hand to offer support.
While this damaging weather event was initially described as being a “localised tornado”, Met Office meteorologists have referred to it as a ‘supercell thunderstorm’ at this point, and say they know from their Dopplar radar that it had a strong rotating updraft.
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Experts are still waiting for surface data to confirm, but have admitted that the presence of these features “suggests a tornado at the surface was likely”.
Last night a supercell thunderstorm crossed Greater Manchester causing damage. We know from our Dopplar radar that it had a strong rotating updraft. Whilst we don't yet have surface data to confirm, the presence of these features suggests a tornado at the surface was likely 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/XEG1TkKbjN
But what exactly is a ‘supercell thunderstorm’ then? Why does it occur? And how does it differ from the regular thunderstorm we’re all used to?
Well, the answer is all in the tornado.
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What is a tornado?
The Met Office defines a tornado as a “swirling column of air” that spins rapidly with winds of over 40mph or 60kph.
Described by weather experts as being one of the most violent and dramatic weather types on the planet, which serve as a demonstration of the “destructive power of our turbulent atmosphere”, there are several different types of tornado – with the fastest wind speeds ever recorded for a tornado being over 300mph or 480kph.
Not only are they the fastest wind speeds ever recorded for a tornado, they are actually the fastest winds ever recorded on Earth, according to the Met Office.
How is a tornado formed?
Tornadoes form in “very unsettled weather conditions” as part of severe thunderstorms, according to experts at the Met Office.
A tornado typically has the form of a twisting funnel-shaped cloud between the cloud base and the ground. Sometimes the vortex can appear as a slender rope-like form, particularly when the tornado is weakening, although sometimes a tornado can be almost invisible, and is only observable by the debris thrown up from the surface.
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Tornadoes usually form from big thunderstorms called ‘supercells’ – which was the case for the incident last night in Stalybridge – but can form from other types of storms too, with tropical cyclones being one of the most common.
Tornadoes form in “very unsettled weather conditions” as part of severe thunderstorms / Credit: Met Office
How is a ‘supercell thunderstorm’ different to a regular thunderstorm?
A thunderstorm is defined by the Met Office as a series of sudden electrical discharges that result from atmospheric conditions.
Most thunderstorms are associated with towering clouds known as cumulonimbus, and the right conditions for the formation of a thunderstorm are unstable air and a mechanism for causing air to rise – which is usually hot and humid air, with lots of energy.
When a thunderstorm is being fed lots of warm and moist air, it continues to grow and can begin to rotate, and then, if this rotation begins to lower from the cloud, a tornado begins to form – however, at this stage, it’s just called a ‘funnel cloud’.
It’s only when the funnel reaches the ground that becomes a tornado.
Featured Image – Tameside Council
News
Body of woman found in River Mersey last year finally identified after ‘extensive’ investigation
Emily Sergeant
The body of woman who was found in the River Mersey last year has finally been identified.
Following what has been described as an ‘extensive investigation’ by Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team to determine the identity of the body, which was sadly discovered in the river adjacent to Chorlton Water Park on 21 March 2024, the family of the victim has now been informed and supported by specialist officers.
The victim has been formally named as 38-year-old Laura Stanley, who was originally from Derbyshire but was living in Stockport.
After the body was discovered, and ‘exhaustive and determined’ investigation by GMP officers began to identify here, including detailed checks of both national and international databases.
The Major Incident Team (MIT) also closely worked in collaboration with specialist forensic service providers to create an anthropological profile, which eventually culminated in the creation of a facial reconstruction image.
Following several media appeals, a relative of Laura contacted officers and then a DNA match was confirmed through a familial link.
“Laura was a kind and gentle person with a great sense of fun and adventure,” Laura’s family said in a heartbreaking tribute to her.
“She was generous, thoughtful, caring and always keen to volunteer within the community. Laura was a proud and loving mum and she will be greatly missed by her girls and all of her friends and family who loved her dearly.”
The River Mersey, across from Chorlton Water Park, where Laura’s body was discovered / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
While Laura has now been identified, police say further investigations will take place to understand her last movements, the events that led to her death, and her discovery in the river.
Additionally, as is standard practice, GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate is also reviewing a previous missing report relating to Laura in the time before the discovery of her body, which will determine prior contact relating to Laura, and whether the appropriate measures were enacted.
#UPDATE | A woman who was discovered in the River Mersey last year has been identified following an extensive investigation by officers in GMP’s Major Incident Team.
Thank you to those of you who have shared our appeals over the last year.
Anyone who knew Laura and thinks they may be able to assist with the investigation is asked to contact police by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat Service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 1191 of 21 March 2024.
Alternatively, you can contact the Major Incident Team Syndicate 3 directly on 0161 856 9479, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
It is currently believed that Laura was last seen around January 2024.
Featured Image – GMP
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More than 70,000 home buyers set to pay thousands after missing stamp duty relief deadline
Emily Sergeant
More than 70,000 home buyers across England are estimated to have missed the stamp duty relief deadline.
This sadly means they’ll be required to fork out thousands of pounds extra.
In case you hadn’t heard, up until yesterday (31 March 2025), anyone who was moving and had bought a home in the past was not required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, better-known as just stamp duty, on the portion of the property price up to £250,000.
But from today (1 April), this threshold has now fallen back to £125,000, which unfortunately means that property purchasers are facing an extra £2,500 in moving costs, on average.
While the end of the stamp duty relief will mostly affect those Greater Manchester buyers who had already previously purchased properties, first time buyers are sadly not exempt from the deadline changes too, as their current stamp duty threshold of £425,000 has now fallen back to £300,000 as of today.
Person holding the keys to a new house in their hand / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)
Given that the average property price for a first time buyer-type home is currently around £227,965, according to Rightmove, the new £300,000 threshold may hit those purchasing properties in more expensive areas – particularly the South East.
A third of those estimated 70,000 home buyers who have missed the deadline are thought to be first time buyers.
Leading property platform Rightmove published an analysis in February into just how much of an impact the end of the stamp duty relief would have on home buyers, all while calling on the UK Government to announce a short extension to the deadline to help people in the middle of the property purchasing process avoid potentially thousands of pounds in extra moving costs.
But despite these calls from industry leaders, there was no extension to the deadline announced in the last week’s latest Spring Statement.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the Government has not used the Spring Statement as an opportunity to extend the impending stamp duty deadline for those currently going through the home-moving process,” commented Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock.
“We estimate over 70,000 people are going to miss the deadline and complete in April instead, and a third of those are first time buyers.”
Emily Sergeant -
28th December 2023 
