An “urgent” tornado alert has been issued for England and Wales, heightening concerns after a recent tornado tore through Greater Manchester, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) has issued this warning, indicating a heightened risk of serious damage from turbulent weather conditions. The alert encompasses Wales, the Midlands, and portions of northern England.

In a statement, TORRO explained, “The tornado risk, although low, may take on a bi-modal distribution – with one area of slightly higher risk being in the discussion area across the RoI on Saturday morning, and the second being across parts of Cent S England, SE England, the SE Midlands, and E Anglia on Saturday night. This latter area will be monitored on Saturday for a possible tornado watch.”

This heightened alert follows a recent tornado that struck Greater Manchester, wreaking havoc and causing significant damage across the region. High-speed winds, rain, and snow have battered the UK, leading the Met Office to issue nine yellow weather warnings, cautioning the public about rapid gusts, heavy snowfall, and rain.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the damage in Stalybridge, Tameside, was the result of a tornado. A spokesperson for the police department stated, “It is believed the damage caused was due to a localised tornado. GMP declared this as a major incident due to the severity of the damage caused and potential risk to public safety.”

As the UK braces for severe weather conditions, forecasters warn that the “Troll from Trondheim” is poised to bring brutal winds and “significant snow” to the nation. Various warnings for rain, snow, ice, and wind remain in effect today and tomorrow, with weather maps indicating a “cold and severe” start to the new year.

The Met Office cautioned, “Essentially there is a chance of very isolated tornadoes today on a band of heavy rain moving east across many parts of Wales and England; the risk is somewhat higher the further south you are. The vast majority of places will only see some briefly intense heavy rain and a short period of very gusty winds, but we can’t rule out a few tornadoes as well.”

The public is urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to stay safe in these challenging weather conditions.