A severe storm which crossed the North Island on 2 February 1936 caused substantial damage in and around Palmerston North, one of the hardest hit towns. Houses lost roofs, chimneys were blown over, the grandstands of the A&P Association, the Awapuni Racecourse and the sportsground were demolished, and a man was killed when he was blown off his roof as he tried to repair it. Manawatu Evening Standard, February 3, 1936: "During the storm on Feb 2, the main grandstand, which faced a southerly direction, was unroofed for its entire length. Pieces of wood and iron sheets were scattered in all directions. Toward the western end of the man stand, part of the roof caved in and lay in tangled and twisted wreckage. The seating suffered comparatively little damage"