Taiaroa Head recorded a peak wind gust of 176 km/hr on the morning of the 1st.

The coastal region was buffeted by storm-force winds from 8:30pm on the 30th. The storm arrived quickly and was more ferocious than expected.

Power was lost to up to 15,000 consumers, some for 24 hours. The power lines were mostly damaged by falling trees and flying debris.

The gales cut a swathe from Riverton to Tokanui.

Most of the damage was done in Invercargill and Riverton.

Power was lost in Bluff on the night of the 30th.

Most shops in Bluff were closed on the 1st due to the power cuts.

South Port recorded winds of 180 km/hr at the port.

South Port had thousands of dollars of damage done by the storm. The wind lifted an empty container off the wharf and dumped it into the sea. Many of the wharf sheds lost roofing iron and and some windows were smashed by flying debris.

One resident said the winds were the worst he had experienced.

Some people major damage done to their property, with big sheds blown away and trees felled.

Greenpoint had a gust of 185 km/hr at 10pm on the 30th, recorded on The Power Company's wind mast.

On the night of the 30th, Invercargill experienced some of the most violent winds in its history. "Storm force" winds prevailed for 30 minutes, and were said by some to be the worst in living memory. The westerley winds began gusting at 9:50pm.

The winds caused major damage, with trees, power lines, hoardings and signs blown down. Hundreds of trees in parks fell like match sticks. Traffic lights were spun around to face the wrong way and some central city shop windows were blown in. Debris was left strewn across Invercargill. In Otepuni Gardens an old man pine tree was snapped in half and fell onto the stopbank, and about 60 trees in the hospital grounds were felled.

Roofs were ripped off houses and tunnel houses were sent flying. A pine tree crashed through the roof of the United Soccer clubrooms in Ness St and Clive Wilson Computers lost part of its roof. The Southland Indoor Sports Complex suffered major interior damage when the winds blew off its roof. A 100m-long fence was knocked over by the wind and minor damage was done to hospital buildings.

Two fires raged in South Invercargill. At 11:30pm every fire engine available was engaged with house fires at Ettrick St and Bowmont St, believed to be caused by the wind, as well as other wind-related incidents. The chief fire officer made a plea to the public to stay indoors.

Cars struggled to stay on roads in the high winds. Overnight on the 30th Invercargill was cordoned off from incoming traffic at East Rd, the Lorneville corner and SH1 at SouthFert on the way to Bluff. The winds left power poles teetering over the road on SH1. A bluegum in Dee St was felled by the wind and blocked one side of the road for a time on the 1st. At Southland Hospital, fallen trees and branches blocked the roadway used by ambulances to get to the emergency department.

Invercargill Airport recorded a peak wind gust of 138.75 km/hr on the night of the 30th - the strongest gust in the last 15 years (from 2007) and just 2 km/hr below Invercargill's record.

The average wind speed on the night of the 30th was 98 km/hr.

Parts of Queens Park would be cordoned off for up to two weeks while fallen trees and loose branches were cleared.

Southland Hospital lost power at 10pm on the 30th, and had to use diesel generators until 11am on the 1st.

A 100-year-old macrocarpa tree on a Lochiel property crashed down onto cattle yards, a trampoline and an old shepherds hut at about 8pm on the 28th. The tree had split in three while falling and narrowly missed the house.

Power was also cut to the property.

15 ewes and 15 lambs were crushed while sheltering under trees at Mataura Island.

A large macrocarpa tree fell on a garage in Otatara. A radio mast at a home in Otatara was damaged by the wind and left impaled on a tree.

The St Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Rimu lost 75% of its roof. Some of the roof debris was blown up to 650 m away.

Power was lost in Riverton on the night of the 30th.

A car on a Waipango farm was flattened when a large tre fell on it.