Tennis ball-sized hail slams Argentina, flooding in the capital

Severe storms with massive hail and intense rainfalls battered parts of Argentina and Uruguay on Tuesday, submerging Buenos Aires' streets.

Buenos Aires witnessed an extraordinary deluge during the afternoon and evening of March 12th. Within just a few hours, the city received between 4 and 6 inches of rain, which is on par with its average rainfall for the entire month of March.

The northern suburbs of Buenos Aires were particularly hard-hit, experiencing hailstones as large as 4 inches in diameter, amidst dramatic and menacing arcus cloud formations. The storms brought not only heavy showers and oversized hail but also strong winds and significant electrical activity.

This weather chaos disrupted life in Buenos Aires, causing floods that inundated streets and buildings, forced road closures, and left vehicles stranded. The transportation network faced severe challenges, affecting the city's overall functionality.

The destruction extended beyond inconvenience, with property damage, downed trees, and over 70,000 residents losing power. Tragically, one fatality was reported. Emergency services were stretched with numerous calls for help throughout the city.

The tumultuous weather on March 12th also affected central and eastern Argentina and parts of Uruguay, triggering floods, storm winds, and hail, leading to widespread damage. The forecast for March 13th and 14th indicates a continued risk of storms, maintaining a heightened threat of further flooding and damage.

These storms follow a pattern of severe weather across the region, driven by a stationary front dividing hot northern air masses from cooler southern ones, amidst high humidity. This has led to unusually high temperatures in northern Argentina, peaking at 112.1°F on March 12th, creating oppressive heat conditions felt as high as 122°F locally.