A destructive storm destroyed the terminal in the city of Villaguay, Entre Rios Province, Argentina | GOVERNMENT OF ENTRE RIOS
Severe storms with extreme rainfall and destructive storms have hit Uruguay, central and northeastern Argentina in the last few hours, MetSul Meteorologia warned. It is just the beginning of a series of days of intense instability that will bring successive waves of storms to neighboring countries.
In Argentina, a rain and storm storm with gusts of more than 120 km/h hit the city of Olavarría, in the center of Buenos Aires province, between the late hours of Tuesday and the early hours of this Wednesday. The storm displaced 70 families and caused trees to fall, collapse and roofs to collapse. The community declared a state of emergency.
The storms also caused damage in towns in Santa Fé and Entre Ríos provinces. In the town of Sastre, around 200 millimeters fell in just three hours this Wednesday, causing flooding and forcing the temporary evacuation of at least 40 people.
Two people died after their car was swept away by a stream that crossed the national highway 14 in Entre Ríos, as a result of the storm that hit the region and caused major damage in several towns, the provincial police told the Télam agency.
The storm devastated a large part of Entre Ríos province, causing damage to schools, sports centers and bus stations, as well as the downing of trees and light poles, blocking roads and making traffic on various rural roads and access to cities impossible.
Villaguay, in the center of Entre Ríos, is one of the most affected cities, where the destruction of the power grid left almost the entire city without electricity and several private and public buildings were completely destroyed. The sports center became a ruin and the new bus station collapsed.
#Tormentas Severe weather this morning in Monte Caseros, Corrientes. A supercell with a large gust front can be seen. Severe flooding continues in the coastal provinces.
🔴Official media confirmed deaths due to flooding on Ruta 14, Santa Fe.… pic.twitter.com/SyppHybWoB
— METRA Meteorología de la República Argentina (@METRArgentina) December 13, 2023
Storm damage on the south side of Entre Ríos https://t.co/H09FnjhJl4
— Nacho López Amorín (@MeteoNacho) December 13, 2023
Severe flooding in the city of El Trébol 🚨
👉 Surroundings of more than 200 millimeters of Cayeron above the Santa Fesian Pueblo. Classes are suspended and it is recommended not to leave the house. pic.twitter.com/bSZQ6yujCX
— Cadena 3 Rosario (@Cadena3_Rosario) December 13, 2023
In Uruguay, departments on the country's north and west coasts were hit by extreme rainfall. By 3 p.m., rainfall amounts of between 150 and 200 mm had fallen in the areas of Artigas, Salto and Paysandu. In the city of Durazno, the storm caused flooding, roofs and falling trees.
Destruction in the city of Durazno, Uruguay, due to strong storms this morning.
Falling treetops, electric tent and fallen Liviano trees (a similar situation occurred in Trinidad, Flores)
Photos via Andrea Somma pic.twitter.com/dXRnVOBfGa— Mati Mederos (@MatiMederosURU) December 13, 2023
The scenario remains favorable for severe storms in Uruguay, central and northeastern Argentina until the weekend. The exceptionally warm air mass over central South America will form and block instability systems in the midlatitudes. As a result of the blockade, the provinces of central Argentina and Uruguay are expected to experience frequent rainfall and storms through the weekend, punctuated by moments of sunshine and strong weather.
On Thursday night and early Friday, strong areas of instability with heavy rain and severe storms are expected to move from Buenos Aires province to Uruguay, affecting both the capitals of Prata, Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
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