Dear belMarduk: as a jest, "buffet" ought to come easily to you, since it is derived from an old French word:
ME < OFr, dim. of buffe, a blow:
Since most storms have isolated gusts, "buffet" is a perfect word to describe the sensation.

It used to puzzle me why a side table in diningroom with extra silverware, condiments, beverages, dessert awaiting end of meal was called a "buffet". Turns out to be an entirely unrelated homonym