Storm warning

Strong winds brought havoc on Saturday afternoon, bringing down this Jacaranda tree in Victoria Street, Grafton.

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STRONG south-westerly storm winds whipped through the Clarence Valley on Saturday afternoon, leaving residents a mess to clean up.

The 75 kilometres per hour winds caused a large tree to fall, only just missing a house in Victoria Street, Grafton.

Similar conditions were reported to the State Emergency Service (SES) attending five jobs around the area, and fire crews lending a hand to residents affected by the storm that lasted for just over an hour.

Pillar Valley woman Lisa Berry was left without power overnight after the storm caused major destruction in the area.

The ‘cyclone-like’ winds blew the family trampoline over the fence and demolished their chook house.

“The winds were incredible and trees came down every where,” she said.

“There was fairly decent sized hail and that, combined with the wind and rain, caused quite a bit of damage.”

Ten millimetres of rain was recorded in the Grafton area and large lightning strikes and small hail were reported across the Valley.

SES regional controller Dave Mackey said the SES crew received calls to minor storm incidents including fallen trees and loose roofing iron.

He said many of these calls could be reduced if people took simple precautions before a storm.

“We are in storm season so people should make sure their gutters are clean, there is no loose articles lying around the yard and they have a general storm plan,” Mr Mackey said.

Storm season starts in October and runs until the end of March.

For more information visit www.ses.nsw.gov.au.