Hailstorm damages car windows in RS and destroys orchards in SC

A strong hailstorm surprised residents of Sarandi, in Northern Rio Grande do Sul, on Monday afternoon. The storm, which occurred around 3 pm, brought strong winds and hailstones of various sizes, causing damage to homes, vehicles, and businesses in different areas of the city. The phenomenon was quick but intense, covering the ground with a white layer of ice in just a few minutes. Teams from the Civil Defense and volunteers were mobilized to assist in cleaning and repairs, with no reports of injuries despite the damages.

Videos and photos shared on social media showed streets and yards covered in hail, damaged roofs, and vehicles dented by large hailstones. Some car windows were even pierced by the hailstones. The local government is still assessing the damages and advising residents to be cautious during the recovery process.

In addition to Northern Rio Grande do Sul, the Hailstorm also hit the Serra Catarinense region in the morning. Municipalities such as Bom Jardim da Serra, São Joaquim, and Urubici reported persistent hail precipitation, resulting in losses to orchards and vineyards.

Bom Jardim da Serra experienced the phenomenon in Campo do Meio and Vista Alegre, while in São Joaquim, the hail damaged production areas near Quinta da Neve. Urubici recorded hail in Lajeado Liso. Although the hailstones were small, the precipitation lasted approximately 30 minutes in some areas, causing harm to fruits still growing. Apple, blueberry, and grape crops were particularly affected, especially in areas lacking anti-hail nets for protection.

Technical teams and producers are assessing the financial impact of the losses. The partial loss of the harvest is concerning, as the event occurred during a critical period for the development of cold climate fruits. The hailstorms in both Santa Catarina in the morning and Northern Rio Grande do Sul in the afternoon resulted from very localized yet intense areas of instability.

The instability that affected the Plateau of Southern Santa Catarina began forming in the early morning with rain in Northeast Rio Grande do Sul. The isolated hailstorm in Sarandi was due to the formation of heavy clouds caused by daytime heating under an unstable atmosphere in Northern Rio Grande do Sul. The temperature reached 33ºC in Northwest Rio Grande do Sul in the afternoon and reached 28ºC in Sarandi before the storm.