High winds rip houses from foundation in Port aux Basques area
Wreckhouse wind gusts peaked at 159 km/h over the weekend
Hugh Osmond grabbed his camera on the afternoon of Nov. 27 and headed straight for the Trans-Canada Highway outside Port aux Basques to capture footage of high winds.
According to Osmond, the wind was gusting 130 km/h around 2:30 p.m. Environment Canada reports gusts in Wreckhouse over the weekend peaked at 159 km/h.
The fridge, stove countertops, an air conditioning [unit] was there too. You name it, it was there.- Hugh Osmond
"The car was shaking and the rocks were flying, small rocks were blowing around," said Osmond, who saw the blustery conditions near Big Pond.
"There was a car parked and the rock hit the window and broke the window out."
The video Osmond captured on his dashcam shows the wind picked up the water, sending it flying as high as the mountains nearby.
Osmond explained the wind is so strong in the Wreckhouse area that it tunnels between the nearby hills and makes the water dance.
Right across from Big Pond, Osmond said he saw several small unoccupied homes ripped from concrete foundations.
"We were there taking pictures of the pond and one house was already over. We left and came back half an hour later and the other two houses were gone over," he said.
The extent of damages is unknown, and CBC News has reached out to the property owner.
'It's unbelievable at times'
Osmond said he's never seen the wind do this much damage.
His pictures show various household appliances scattered across the property.
"The fridge, stove countertops, an air conditioning [unit] was there too. You name it, it was there," he said.
Osmond said it might be a challenge to get outside, but he gets a thrill from capturing the Wreckhouse winds.
"I've been out taking pictures of trucks turned over and the wind will just take me and put me right in the ditch," he said.
"You can't stand up. It's unbelievable at times."
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