The rains returned to the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) and different points in Argentina to bring some relief after several weeks of incessant heat, and that promises to continue next week. The alerts of the National Meteorological Service (SMN) were fulfilled and at sunset it began to rain, not only to calm the heat, but also to mitigate the drought that affects a large part of the country. But also, an earthquake hit Santiago del Estero and was felt in Chaco and Salta.
Around 5:00 p.m. this Friday, and after a gray day but with high temperatures that reached 36 degrees of thermal sensation, it began to rain in the City of Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires suburbs, La Plata and other nearby towns. Something similar happened on the Atlantic Coast, with its epicenter in the corridor between Mar del Plata, Chapadmalal and Miramar.
According to the forecast, “severe weather conditions” were expected, although for the moment it was only rain of normal intensity. The same conditions will persist at dawn and all of Saturday, with a minimum of 22 degrees and a maximum of 32. In Córdoba, one of the provinces most affected by the drought, it also began to rain on Friday afternoon, after another day oppressive, with a maximum that reached 38 degrees.
In the interior of that province, there were more complicated conditions with a hail storm in the area of Río Tercero and its surroundings, which caused extensive damage to the corn crop. A similar situation was experienced in Huinca Renancó, to the south, known for its peanut plantations, where just over 100 millimeters fell. Meanwhile, similar conditions are expected for Saturday, with an announcement of storms for the capital Córdoba, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 32.
For its part, in Santa Fe, the city of Rosario received just over 50 millimeters in just 40 minutes, and with gusts of wind that reached 55 kilometers. Such conditions, including hail, caused various mishaps, since some streets were flooded and power outages were reported at various points. The forecast remains alert for the next few hours in Rosario: on Saturday it will have a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 32 degrees.
There was also heavy rain in La Rioja, where a maximum of 41 degrees was recorded in the capital, and with similar conditions for the weekend, although the highest temperatures would reach 34 degrees. Meanwhile, there were light rains in other cities such as San Luis, San Miguel de Tucumán and Ushuaia, while similar conditions are announced over the weekend for the Tucuman capital, Posadas and Corrientes.
The earthquake in Santiago del Estero
At 7:09 p.m. on the same day, an earthquake was recorded at a depth of 610 kilometers in Santiago del Estero. According to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (CSEM), the quake reached between 6.3 and 6.8 degrees on the Richter scale. The epicenter occurred in the town of Campo Gallo, in the northeast of the province and almost 250 kilometers from the capital of Santiago. However, the movement also affected towns in Chaco and Salta.