Storms and heavy rain between 03 to 05 April, 2018, have caused severe flooding in Santa Cruz province, Argentina and Magallanes Region in Chile.
Evacuations have been carried out and schools and roads closed. The Santa Cruz provincial government said the flooding has “paralysed the city of Río Gallegos.”
Argentina
Over 50 people were evacuated and dozens of streets closed after flooding in Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz province, Argentina.
The floods came after a period of heavy rain between 03 to 05 April, 2018. Local media reported that the city received 3 times the amount of rain it would normally see for the whole of April.
Public offices and schools were closed and over 50 people evacuated their homes. Some have since been able to return home.
Civil Protection, police, fire service and military personnel have been deployed to alleviate the flooding.
Record Rainfall
Argentina’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) said that in a 24 hour period 04 to 05 April, Río Gallegos recorded 59 mm of rain, the highest daily amount on record for the city. The previous daily high was 41.8 mm recorded in January, 1957.
SMN added that Río Gallegos has had its wettest April on record, with 69 mm of rain falling this month (to 05 April). The previous high was 64.1 mm, set in April 2002.
A warning for strong winds and rain will remain in place for the region over the next few days.
Social Media
Rio Gallegos, Santa Cruz. Décadas ganadas postales de una lluvia fuera de lo común, sin desagües pluviales…todo inundo. pic.twitter.com/BoON400huJ
— oscar muñoz (@munoznotired) April 4, 2018
RÉCORD| Entre las 9 h de ayer y las 9 h de hoy, precipitaron 59 milímetros en Río Gallegos (Santa Cruz) y es un récord diario absoluto (récord diario anterior: 41.8 mm el 1/1/1957)…(sigue) pic.twitter.com/C2r6LheC2Y
— SMN Argentina (@SMN_Argentina) April 5, 2018
(Récord en Río Gallegos). También se bate un récord mensual para abril, ya que en lo transcurrió del mes cayeron 69 mm y superó el récord mensual anterior de 64.1 mm registrados en 2002. #lluvia #abril #SMN
— SMN Argentina (@SMN_Argentina) April 5, 2018
Chile
Storms and flooding also affected Punta Arenas in Magallanes Region, Chile, around 200km to the south west of Río Gallegos.
Local media reported that several houses and a bridge were damaged in the flooding. The storm also interrupted power supplies. Authorities were prompted to close schools on 04 April, 2018.
The city recorded 33.4 mm of rain in 24 hours to 04 April 2018.. According to WMO figures, Punta Arenas would normally see around 44.7 mm of rain for the whole of April.
Social Media
https://twitter.com/gobmagallanes/status/981543137410732034
Ante la Alerta Meteorológica de la @meteochile_dmc por precipitaciones moderadas a fuertes en la Región de Magallanes, ten en cuenta las siguientes recomendaciones pic.twitter.com/bOySR8GWjp
— onemichile (@onemichile) April 3, 2018
VIDEO | Ahora en Punta Arenas #puq @MetArmada_Mag @MetArmada_Valp @gmarconeweather @butniko @javiereverse @ExtraChile @munipuq @christianpino @dondavor @reddeemergencia pic.twitter.com/4RG0hTnjqQ
— OSCAR ESPAÑA BURGOS (@Oscar_Espana_B) April 5, 2018
Truenos y relámpagos en #PuntaArenas @reddeemergencia @gmarconeweather @ITVnoticias @gobmagallanes @sitiodelsuceso pic.twitter.com/KYgOrLQauy
— Centro Meteorologico (@MetArmada_Mag) April 4, 2018
Escuela Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa permanecerá sin clases el día de mañana jueves 05 de abril debido a problemas ocasionados por las intensas lluvias que afectan a nuestra comuna. El resto de los establecimientos reanuda de manera normal su funcionamiento. pic.twitter.com/Qc8WZPkwOs
— PUNTA ARENAS (@munipuq) April 5, 2018
#lluvias en #Magallanes está causando diversos daños en Puente Eusebio Lillo en Punta Arenas pic.twitter.com/cmnUWjlR8M
— Radio ViaSur (@radioviasur) April 4, 2018
Flood Summary
Locations
B - Punta Arenas (Chile)
Magnitude
Punta Arenas, Chile - April 3 to April 4, 2018
Río Gallegos, Argentina - April 4 to April 5, 2018
Damages
Río Gallegos, Argentina - April 3 to April 6, 2018
Punta Arenas, Chile - April 3 to April 6, 2018
Local media also reported damage to a bridge.