Answer:
Most likely the paragraph would not be as vivid or engaging for the reader.
Explanation:
For example (and I'll try my best here) this is what the paragraph might sound like if it didn't have such figurative language:
As I walked home, the storm began. The wind was very strong, so i had a hard time walking forward. I was able to make it to the house by walking backwards, still with great difficulty.
Remember, authors use figurative language such as metaphors or similes to paint a picture for the audience, or to get a certain point across. In this instance the author is trying to relate to the reader of the sheer power the wind possessed over the narrator's body.