Gusts of up to 90mph ripped up trees, overturned lorries and battered homes.
Wind tore up a school wooden climbing frame which then damaged three cars parked nearby at Elland Church of England Primary School.
Head teacher Freda McGowan said firefighters made the structure safe.
"Nobody was hurt and that is very fortunate," she said.
"Two people had a near miss."
The incident happened at 2.45pm and the cars belonged to two members of staff and the school nurse.
Calderdale road traffic police cordoned off Skircoat Green Road, Halifax, yesterday after a sycamore tree blew over.
It damaged a Renault Clio and Mitsubishi utility vehicle parked at the side of the road. No one was hurt.
Tree surgeons from Calderdale Council's forestry unit also attended the scene.
Around a dozen trees were believed to have fallen across roads and railway lines during the height of yesterday's storms.
Tree surgeon Mick Harrop said: "Fallen trees are very common in weather where winds reach 80 miles per hour. They can be very dangerous."
High winds ripped a satellite dish and bricks off the gable end of a home in Siddal.
A metal shed was also torn to pieces at The Bungalows, Backhold Avenue. The gale blew off sections of the roof at the new Tesco store at Sowerby Bridge.
Many homeowners were affecetd by flooding.