STORMS IN SYDNEY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21259, 1 November 1940, Page 8

STORMS IN SYDNEY

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE CITY IN SEMI-DARKNESS TRAFFIC AT STANDSTILL (United Press Assn.— Eler. Tel. Copyright 1 . 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 a sudden oppressiveness, heavy black clouds plunging the city in semi-darkness. Then a south-westerly gale of 94 miles an hour arrived like a tornado, carrying paper and debris high into the air. It lifted the roofs off railway sheds at Homebush and Rozelle, and brought down awnings, fences, trees, chimneys and overhead power lines in various suburbs. Traffic in the city was brought practically to a standstill. Some of the 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 repeatedly 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, Concord and some of the northern suburbs were unroofed. Fires were started by fallen electric wires. A mystery explosion resembling a fireball occurred in the shopping centre of Naremburn suburb, and considerably damaged two shops. Fences collapsed over a wide area. TORNADO AT DUBBO DAMAGE TOTALS £IOO,OOO GRAIN SHEDS WRECKED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 1, 3.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 1 A report from the western wheat centre at Dubbo states that a tornado wrought havoc in the township, causing £IOO.OOO worth of damage in twenty minutes. Many modern homes, also shops, offices and factories, were unroofed, and power lines were brought down. Roads and streets were littered with roof-tiles and iron. The Dubbo grain sheds were practically wrecked. Many People Injured Yesterday’s storm was one of the most violent on record. It is described by the State Meteorologist as a tornadic squall.” A pylon of the harbour bridge was struck by lightning, causing a block of masonry to fall. It narrowly missed a policeman below. A boy aged five years was killed by a lorry while running to shelter. Many people were injured in S.vdJust before the storm broke at Dubbo a huge waterspout was seen racing up the coast.