Severe storms trigger damaging tornado and flooding in Puebla, Mexico
A damaging tornado impacted the municipalities of San Nicolás Buenos Aires and Tlachichuca in Puebla, Mexico, on May 18, 2026, as severe storms produced flash flooding and hail damage across parts of central Mexico. Floodwaters reached depths of 50 cm (19.7 inches) on some streets, while hail damaged vegetable and potato crops in Quecholac and nearby communities.
Flooding in San Nicolas, Buenos Aires, on May 17, 2026. Credit: Puebla Civil Protection
A damaging tornado struck the municipalities of San Nicolás Buenos Aires and Tlachichuca in Puebla on May 18 as severe storms brought heavy rain, hail, and flooding to the state.
According to local media reports, the tornado touched down at approximately 17:00 local time (LT) and remained on the ground for about 15 minutes.
Preliminary reports suggest it destroyed industrial machinery, damaged farmland, and ripped off road signs along the El Seco-Zacatepec State Highway.
Meanwhile, severe storms brought heavy rainfall and hail across Puebla, triggering flash floods in some areas.
Rainfall began at around 16:00 LT on May 18, affecting the municipalities of Quecholac, Tlachichuca, San Nicolás Buenos Aires, Nopalucan, San José Chiapa, and Rafael Lara Grajales, as well as neighboring municipalities in the state of Tlaxcala. Floodwaters reached heights of 50 cm (19.7 inches) on some streets, while hail damaged crops across the region.
The storms came just one day after floodwaters reached heights of 90 cm (35.4 inches) along the El Seco-Perote road in the San Nicolás area on May 17, according to the Puebla Civil Protection Service.
The hail caused significant agricultural damage, destroying fields of cilantro, broccoli, and lettuce in the Quecholac area and nearby communities. It also damaged potato crops that farmers had been trying to save after surviving weeks of rain and frost.
References:
1 Rain and tornado strike municipalities in Puebla – Municipos Puebla – May 18, 2026
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
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