Greater Manchester braces for heavy rain as we head into New Year

Greater Manchester can expect a rather wet start to 2024 - after a tornado ripped through more than 100 homes in Tameside. Spells of heavy rain are forecast over the coming days, but these will clear up for our first day of the new year.

Yesterday, Stalybridge residents had to be evacuated and the council declared a 'major incident' following the event, which took place in the early hours of Thursday morning. The 'mini tornado' has since been categorised as a 'T5' - where wind speeds range from 137mph to 160mph - and is thought to be the strongest to hit the UK in 17 years.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for wind as Storm Gerrit swept over the UK. The alert, which covered parts of Greater Manchester, was in place between Wednesday and the early hours of Thursday morning.

READ MORE: CCTV captures terrifying moment epicentre of tornado hit Greater Manchester street

READ MORE: 'I went out into the street - then saw my neighbour had half his house torn off'

There are currently no more weather warnings in place this week, or for the new year. However there will be spells of heavy and light rain falling over Greater Manchester.

According to The Met Office, light showers are forecast in our region from this afternoon (Friday December 29), turning heavy from around 4pm. The showers will continue over night. Temperatures will peak at 8C, with lows of 4C.

The early hours of Saturday morning will start out dry, with yet more heavy rain forecast from 8am. Skies will become overcast, with the rain due to stop for a couple of hours. Light rain will resume falling in the early afternoon, turning heavy from 5pm. Expect highs of 10C and lows of 6C.

New Year's Eve on Sunday will start out cloudy but dry,