Residents in Hale have recalled the “massive swirling sound” that saw a tornado-like wind leave a trail of destruction through Hale and Altrincham this evening.
A large part of a roof blew off a property on Elm Road in Hale, landing on the opposite side of the street and causing significant damage to one car and minor damage to another.
Several houses in the vicinity, including a number of houses on Hale Road, also lost tiles from their roofs after the sudden weather event which happened shortly before 5.30pm this evening.
One resident, Robert Moussally, said he heard a “big crash” when the roof came off the top off the house.
He told Altrincham Today: “The rain got really heavy and then there was this massive swirling sound and the trees were going absolutely mental.
“Then we heard a big crash and we heard some neighbours talking so we came out and saw that the roof from the back of one of those houses had landed in the garden over there. It’s gone over the top of the house and landed on two cars which are smashed up.”
Another local resident, Nicola Sloan-Graham, called the fire service having “never seen rain like it”.
She also reported a number of tiles falling off the roof of his house and called the fire service.
Olivia Clay, another resident on Elm Road, said: “I was standing on my step, the rain was coming and then all of a sudden everything was just flying this way. It came from nothing. I’ve never experienced anything like it.
“There were three wheelie bins lifted up. I was standing there out of disbelief. It didn’t last very long but then there was a huge crash which must have been when the roof hit the car.”
One fire engine, from Altrincham Fire Station, attended the scene and made the area safe.
