15-07-2025
Our windows were sucked out by ‘tornado' that ripped off roof slates & blew stuff from kitchen table
AN IRISHWOMAN has told how her windows were "sucked out" and items were blown right off her kitchen table as a mini-tornado ripped through her home yesterday morning.
Rita Smith, 45, was left in shock after what she described as a "
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Multiple items were damaged after the mini-tornado at Rita's home
Credit: Rita Smith
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Weather chiefs described the weather phenomenon as a 'possible tornado'
Credit: Rita Smith
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The 'tornado' left a trace of damage at the property
Credit: Rita Smith
Rita said the weather phenomenon only lasted a few seconds but caused scores of damage in some parts of the town.
Strong winds were reported in Drogheda yesterday morning, with Alan O'Reilly confirming he had received multiple reports of the possible tornado at around 9:30am.
Shock clips of the aftermath of the event showed garden furniture broken and bins, trampolines and debris throw around.
Rita, who lives in Bryanstown Manor in Drogheda, told us she had her patio door and front windows open when the wind "all of a sudden" blew through the house.
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She said: "It was the strongest wind I have ever experienced. It was scary.
"It was actually quite calm yesterday morning. We live in a duplex so we're quite high up, and all of a sudden this wind came. It was like a circular thing, I can't even describe it.
"It was the strangest wind I have ever felt. It was like there was a pressure in it and, and it kind of started to come towards the house from across the way.
"It came by the window up by the roof and it starts to take the slates and the top of the roof off the houses.
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"Only lasted probably for less than a minute but was actually really frightening."
Watch terrifying moment 'tornado' sweeps across Irish town as debris flies, trees fall and cars get damaged
The "tornado" ripped off roof slates, blew things off the kitchen table and pulled the front window off hinges.
Rita added: "My mum was actually in the back of the house on the balcony at the time and she thought that the slates on the roof were sheets of paper.
"They were flying in the air and they were landing as it was like a twister type effect.
"The wind moved down from the back to the front again and down through the duplexes towards the end of the estate. And then the slate landed on the back on the lower balconies.
"There were so many things flying. The bins on the side, the gas meter covers were completely blown off.
"There was a a big bird that actually got caught up in it.
"We have quite a lot of damage. It was the scariest thing. It was probably only like 30 seconds."
WINDOWS 'SUCKED OUT'
The 45-year-old told us that their management company rushed to the property premises to assess the damage.
She continued: The windows on the back of the house must have sucked out. They didn't come off the hinges, but everything inside flew out, was sucked out.
"Other parts of town had torrential rain, but we didn't have that at all. We just had this wind.
"It seems to have travelled and I think in other areas experienced this almighty as well. It was like a little tornado. It was crazy, crazy.
"We're quite exposed at the moment, but hopefully it doesn't happen again."
UNSETTLED WEATHER
Ireland is not immune to tornadoes, and even if they are sometimes referred to as 'mini-tornadoes', they are still tornadoes.
Met Eireann said: "The term 'mini-tornado' came into use to distance these tornadoes from the larger ones recorded in the US and other countries.
"However, all tornadoes can be dangerous and on average there are 10 occurrences in Ireland each year."
Ireland was basking in boiling heat and sunny weather over the weekend but
He explained: "That's feeding in bands of rain and showers.
"It's going to be a generally cloudy and wet start today with outbreaks of rain and a few thundery downpours are possible.
"Drier and brighter weather though will extend eastwards to many areas today.
"But there will be a few showers in the mix as well and parts of the southwest may stay cloudy and rather showery today."
Highs of 16C to 20C are expected today in moderate to fresh western breezes.
Many parts of the country will be dry tonight with clear spells, but areas of mist and fog are going to develop, especially across Connacht and West Ulster.
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A 'tornado' left behind damage to a number of homes in Drogheda, Co Louth
Credit: Rita Smith
