23-29 years
A tornado hit Greymouth damaging at least 20 businesses and causing $300,000 worth of damage.
There were heavy showers with thunder and hailstorms on the West Coast.
A tornado cut a swathe through downtown Greymouth on the morning of the 16th.
Approximately 20 businesses reported structural damage. Most major damage was centred on the Greeson and Arney Street area.
MG Marketing was one of the worst hit businesses and the severe damage made the building unusable.
Other businesses which were damaged included Neptune Backpackers, Bannockbrae Signs, Fulton Hogan, Griffen and Smith Mitre 10 and Super Liquor.
Power was cut to much of the central business area. But was restored to most areas after 40 minutes.
At least two power poles snapped like twigs.
Rail crossing signs and sheet metal were carried hundreds of metres.
There were no injuries reported.
The tornado did at least $300,000 worth of damage.
The damage was the worst an assessor had seen in 23 years. Grey District Council senior building inspector said damage was worst he'd seen in 29 years.
The damage caused by the tornado was worse than it normally would have been as the debris was carried far away.
The Bannock Brae Signs building was demolished because it was unsound.
23-29 years
A tornado hit Greymouth damaging at least 20 businesses and causing $300,000 worth of damage.
There were heavy showers with thunder and hailstorms on the West Coast.
A tornado cut a swathe through downtown Greymouth on the morning of the 16th.
Approximately 20 businesses reported structural damage. Most major damage was centred on the Greeson and Arney Street area.
MG Marketing was one of the worst hit businesses and the severe damage made the building unusable.
Other businesses which were damaged included Neptune Backpackers, Bannockbrae Signs, Fulton Hogan, Griffen and Smith Mitre 10 and Super Liquor.
Power was cut to much of the central business area. But was restored to most areas after 40 minutes.
At least two power poles snapped like twigs.
Rail crossing signs and sheet metal were carried hundreds of metres.
There were no injuries reported.
The tornado did at least $300,000 worth of damage.
The damage was the worst an assessor had seen in 23 years. Grey District Council senior building inspector said damage was worst he'd seen in 29 years.
The damage caused by the tornado was worse than it normally would have been as the debris was carried far away.
The Bannock Brae Signs building was demolished because it was unsound.