Severe storm hits Mendoza, Argentina’s wine country, with large hail and heavy rain

Argentina’s famed wine region, Mendoza, was hit by an intense storm on January 11, 2024, with large hailstones and heavy rainfall. Local authorities are assessing the impact on the vineyards, with concerns over the size of the hail and subsequent flooding.

Mendoza, a key wine-producing region in Argentina, experienced a severe storm on January 11, 2024, that brought unusually large hail and heavy rain. The first wave of the storm unleashed hail as large as tennis balls or eggs, followed by abundant rainfall. Soon after, the region was struck by another wave of hail and heavy rain.

Tremendos los videos y fotos del super #granizo en #Mendoza #SanRafael y en #Neuquén en un rato compilado. Si quieren pueden ir volcando acá más🎥⛈️del granizo pic.twitter.com/9PedFoxRJZ

— Marina Fernández (@MARINA_eltiempo) January 12, 2024

#SevereWeather 📹
Catastrófica granizada ⛈️ en San Rafael.

Hace unas horas una violenta tormenta dejó fuertes ráfagas de viento y granizo de gran tamaño en varias zonas de #Mendoza, causando cortes en el suministro eléctrico. pic.twitter.com/8rZolaAUXe

— Meteored.com.ar (@MeteoredAR) January 12, 2024

Granizo del tamaño de pelotas de Golf caen sobre la Ciudad de #SanRafael en la provincia de #Mendoza , #Argentina. #Lluvia #Tormenta #ElNiño

📽️ Publicado por @Top_Disaster pic.twitter.com/wyLnQrDDTq

— El Destiempo (@eldestiempope) January 12, 2024

Pablo Campo, the municipal government secretary of San Rafael, discussed the potential impacts of the storm, particularly focusing on the flooding and the size of the hailstones.

In an interview with a local radio station, Campo conveyed the government’s efforts in investigating the extent of the damage caused to wine production in the districts. The primary concern raised was the amount and size of the hail that fell during the storm, which could have a substantial impact on the vineyards and subsequently, the wine production in the region.

The National Meteorological Service highlighted the challenge in providing timely warnings for the arrival of these strong storms.

References:

¹ Sudden Hailstorm Hits Argentina’s Wine Country – Storyful – January 11, 2024

² Argentina: Storm With Large Hail Batters Parts Of Mendoza Province – The Mountaineer – January 11, 2024

Featured image credit: Meteored (stillshot)