Lincoln Darling Real Estate commercial property salesman Nick Gdanitz said he left the office in North Rd about 12.20pm to pick up an advertising sign that had been blown towards the road.
Then, ''out of nowhere'', came a strong wind gust.
''There was one gust and it blew everything away.''
The ''chunky tree'', at the intersection of North Rd and Cornhill St, was blown over, forcing a motorist to brake to avoid hitting it.
''It was pretty lucky. If it was seconds later, it would have hit.''
Mr Gdanitz said it took five people to move the tree from the road, where it was blocking traffic, to the cycle lane.
MetService meteorologist John Law said wind gusts of more than 100kmh hit open areas of Dunedin yesterday.
''If you are in the most exposed areas, it's been very windy indeed.''
Dunedin City Council acting project and asset management team leader Emma Meggitt said the fallen variegated elm was planted about 20 years ago as part of a trial to find suitable trees for the sides of streets.
A graft union at the base of the tree appeared to have failed, she said.
A similar elm standing nearby was the last remaining one of its kind planted by the council on a street edge in the city.
A council parks officer would check the remaining tree, she said.
The fallen tree was removed by contractors.
