Violent Storm in Sydney

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 259, 1 November 1940, Page 7

Violent Storm in Sydney

Extensive Damage Reported TRAFFIC PRACTICALLY AT A STANDSTILL United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 1 a.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 31. One of the most violent storms of brief duration struck the metropolitan area at 3.15 this afternoon and did extensive damage. The storm was heralded by sudden oppressiveness, heavy black clouds plunging the city into semi-darkness. Then came a south-westerly gale at 94 miles an hour, tornado-like, carrying paper and debris high into the heavens and lifting the roofs off railway sheds at Homebush and Rozelle and bringing down awnings, fences, trees, chimneys and overhead power lines in various suburbs. Traffic in the city was brought practically to a standstill. Some electric train services were disorganised, and trams and motor-cars were compelled to turn on their lights as a safety precaution in the semi-darkness, which was Tepeatedly illuminated by vivid flashes of lightning. A crane at a coal siding at Ball’s Head crashed, imprisoning the engineer in the cabin. Cottages at Kensington and Concord and some northern suburbs were unroofed, while fires were started by fallen electric wires. A mystery explosion, resembling a fireball, occurred in the shopping centre at Naremburn suburb and considerably damaged two shops. Fences collapsed over a wide area.