An high-intensity storm with giant hail It left a trail of damage, scares, and flooded roads in several towns in the province of Córdoba. Images shared by residents on social media showed unusually large hailstones, comparable to tennis balls, which fell heavily on rooftops, vehicles and wooded areas in a matter of minutes.
This episode occurred during a weekend marked by a Very unstable weatherwith heavy rain, thunderstorms and active official notices in much of the country. National Meteorological Service (SMN) It maintained warnings of varying levels for the risk of severe storms and possible hail, in a context of extreme heat and high humidity that favored the formation of highly developed storm clouds.
Historic hailstorm in the Calamuchita Valley
The most striking phenomenon was recorded in the mountain interior, where the Calamuchita Valley It became one of the areas hardest hit by the storm. In towns like Embalse, Santa Rosa, Potrero de Garay and Villa General BelgranoThe neighbors described a such an intense hailstorm that in a few minutes The streets were covered in ice., with a landscape more typical of winter than late spring.
At points such as Santa Rosa, Villa del Dique and Villas Ciudad de AméricaThe downpour began to intensify around 18:00 PM. From that moment on, videos and photographs showing the storm multiplied. large hailstonescapable of denting sheet metal, breaking windows, and damaging crops and gardens. Many residents were forced to shelter their vehicles under makeshift roofs to prevent further damage.
Besides the spectacular hailstorm, the storm left a complicated situation on the public roadSeveral streets were flooded by the accumulation of water and ice, hindering traffic in neighborhoods and access roads to the affected towns. Damage to lightweight roofs, pergolas, and exposed structures was also reported, as well as fallen branches and damage to street furniture.
Local authorities and emergency services toured the most affected areas to assess the damage and address specific incidents. Although no serious injuries have been reported, there was significant material damage to homes and vehicles. considerable in several municipalities from the mountainous area.
The episode fits into a pattern of severe storms which, in a short amount of time, they are able to download heavy rain and hail in relatively limited areas. This combination of intense downpours and large hailstones explains the extent of the damage recorded in the interior of Córdoba.
Extreme rainfall and sweltering heat in the province
While the hailstorm stole the show in the mountain region, other areas of Córdoba stood out for the extraordinary amount of rain accumulated in just a few hours. The town of The TordillaIn the department of San Justo, it topped the list of rainfall with nearly 127,8 mm recorded in a very short period, a volume more typical of several days of rain than of a single day.
This storm of rain and hail was compounded by an atmosphere marked by the extreme heatIn Serrezuela, the thermometer reached 41,8 degreescreating a sweltering day compounded by high humidity. In the provincial capital, the highs reached around 38 degrees in areas such as the city center and the Alberdi neighborhood, which left a particularly heavy heat index before the storms hit.
After the first hailstorm, the atmospheric pattern remained highly variable throughout the afternoon and evening, with intermittent rain and mostly cloudy skiesThe models indicated that the instability could continue until the last hours of the day, with the possibility of new storm cells developing over different areas of the province.
The wind, coming mainly from the southeast, reinforced the influx of warm, humid air, preventing the atmosphere from stabilizing quickly. This constant flow of moisture favored the persistence of dense cloud cover and maintained the risk of further storms in areas already affected by hail.
For many residents, the combination of sweltering heat, sudden weather changes, and violent storms This led to a particularly difficult day, both because of the difficulties in mobility and because of the concern about the possible repetition of similar episodes in the following hours.
SMN alerts: orange and yellow for storms and hail
Given this scenario, the National Metereological Service It maintained various levels of alert for severe storms and probable hail across much of the country. orange level alert —the most relevant in this specific situation— focused on several areas at risk of severe weather events, including Cordoba and other provinces with organized storms and the potential for significant impact. More details on similar warnings can be found at storm and hail alerts.
In the areas under orange alert, the forecasts pointed to intense thunderstorms, very heavy rainfall in short periodsGusts that could exceed 80-90 km/h and hailstones large enough to cause damage. These elements coincide with what was observed in the interior of Córdoba, where giant hailstones became the main feature of the storm.
Meanwhile, other areas of the country were under yellow alertThis level, while implying a slightly lower risk, also includes the possibility of severe storms with lightning, heavy rain, and isolated hailstorms. This situation included various regions in provinces such as Buenos AiresSan Luis, Mendoza, La Pampa, La Rioja, Catamarca, Salta, Jujuy, Santiago del Estero, Formosa, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut, as well as sectors of northern and southern Córdoba.
In total, they were counted up to 20 provinces Under some kind of weather warning, a fact that reflects the magnitude of the instability episode. A large part of the national territory was exposed to a cocktail of heavy rain, strong winds and possible hail, affecting outdoor activity, road transport and, in some areas, agricultural work.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) stressed the importance of closely monitoring official warnings and forecast updates, especially in areas where storms can intensify rapidly. General recommendations included avoiding exposure to the outdoors during hailstorms, securing vehicles indoors whenever possible, and staying away from power lines, tall trees, and objects that could be blown down by the wind.
A month-end marked by water and ice
He rapes her Hailstorm with tennis ball-sized hailstones in Cordoba It has become one of the most striking episodes of this month's end, both because of the size of the stones and the combination of extreme rainfall and sweltering heat In just a few hours. Between the destruction in the Calamuchita Valley, the flooded streets in various municipalities, and temperatures that reached nearly 42 degrees in some areas, the province experienced a day that tested residents, emergency services, and authorities.
In parallel, the activation of Orange and yellow alerts in much of the country It became clear that this was not an isolated event, but rather a widespread episode of instability that affected Córdoba as well as numerous regions in the central and northern parts of the country. Thunderstorms, strong gusts of wind, and the possibility of hail kept everyone watching the skies throughout the weekend.
Everything suggests that these types of incidents, increasingly photographed and shared on social media, will continue to generate social and media impact as long as certain factors are combined. very high temperatures, high humidity, and well-developed storm cellsIn this case, the giant hailstone in Cordoba has left an unforgettable image and a reminder of the force that the atmosphere can reach when the right conditions are present.
