The Chilean Meteorological Directorate recorded winds of 124 kilometers per hour in Pudahuel, a figure never seen in the history of the metropolitan area. This is the explanation of two renowned meteorologists.
Fallen trees, flying roofs and even broken windows. Last night, a frontal system, already forecast, entered the metropolitan area. Winds and rain were expected, but a loud noise began to frighten residents around midnight.
The gusts of wind began to gain more and more intensity, quickly wreaking havoc in different neighborhoods of Santiago. Stations of the Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC) recorded winds of up to 124 kilometers per hour in the municipality of Pudahuel, a figure never seen before in the capital.
Now in the morning, more calmly, Meteorologists are watching the phenomenon with caution, but also curiosity. And no forecaster could have predicted what happened last night in Santiago.
This is what we know so far.
The explanation for the strong winds that hit the metropolitan area
“This is a record. “I have never seen these winds.” he said with surprise Eduardo Saez meteorologist Chilivisionhas The third.
“Actually, if I remember correctly, “The maximum wind intensity recorded in the metropolitan area at Pudahuel airport was approximately 68 kilometers per hour,” a figure well below the 124 kilometres per hour recorded last night.
Added to this exacerbated figure is the DMC station in the Colina municipality which recorded gusts of up to 112 kilometers per hour.
“These effects are not normal at all. More than 80 kilometers is an extreme situation, but “More than 120 kilometers per hour is totally abnormal and, so far, inexplicable with greater precision.” adds Jaime Leyton meteorologist Megatime.
The specialist, in conversation with LT is categorical in explaining that These strong winds “associated with the frontal system are not expected in Santiago. Normally, the most intense winds reach 55 to 60 kilometers per hour.
“Already 124 kilometres, that’s completely abnormal,” says Leyton.
The meteorologist’s general explanation on Megatime it is that Last night’s wind, which picked up around 1 a.m., was due to “a very active frontal system, which reactivated in the south-central area and entered with more energy.”
However, This is a “rough” description. because there is still no more precise one.
On the other hand, Sáez, meteorologist ACSExplain why Yesterday, before the rain, there was a warm wind where the temperature increased by “practically 10 degrees in half an hour. For example, areas like Tobalaba or La Reina went from 10 or 11 degrees to 21 in a very short time.
This coincided with wind gusts which, although generally “usual” in the metropolitan area, This is the first time it has been presented in such an intense and predominant way.
“After midnight, this intensity was recorded, so great and unexpected than what we usually and historically know in the region,” adds Sáez.
These records will continue to top the table of statistics of the most intense winds that Santiago has ever experienced. in its history.
Meteorologists explain if strong winds will return to Santiago
“It is likely that these winds will reactivate this afternoon, as a new pulse of precipitation arrives and the last part of the most significant frontal system activity arrives,” he said. LT Leyton meteorologist.
However, these will be weaker. “The most likely thing is that they will not happen again and that we will have gusts that will exceed 50 kilometres per hour very locally in the central area.”
Saez, from Chilevision, predicted in the same way: “This condition has now disappeared and will no longer affect us today.”
Furthermore, The frontal system is expected to end Saturday morning. “Now the intensity of the precipitation must decrease. It rains in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions. In the metropolitan area, it is possible that the clouds will remain even for a little while in the afternoon and that the rain will return at night.
“But it will be nothing compared to what happened this morning.”
Despite this, the unprecedented intense gusts that occurred in the capital must be investigated. This is how Sáez points out: “As this is a totally abnormal situation, it is not possible to say that it will not happen again.”
“Now we have to start analyzing, start seeing the cause and integrate this variable into the new history of meteorology in the metropolitan region” he rocks.
Devastation caused by strong winds in the metropolitan area
The strong and inexplicable gust of wind caused several havocs in Santiago: according to the count, There is one dead, two injured, several trees fallen, a dozen houses affected and thousands of homes without electricity.
As a precautionary measure, classes are suspended throughout the region.
The most serious incident would be the one that occurred in the municipality of the Central Station, on Gladys Marín and Las Torres avenues: A tree fell on a vehicle with three people on board. One of them died, while the other two were injured and transferred to the old Posta Central.
On the other hand, according to the Superintendence of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) at 9:38 a.m., a total of 648,324 customers without electricity at home : The most affected municipalities would be Maipú, Las Condes, Pudahuel and Colina.
Early, there Minister of the Interior Carolina Tohá warned citizens that they must be “extremely careful.” And the winds and the frontal system affected not only the metropolitan area, but also 9 other regions of the country.
“We recommend that everyone avoid going out and, if they must, exercise extreme caution.” ” wrote the authority in his X account.
Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
