The abundant rains that fell in the last hours in the City had
a peculiarity
that explains, in part, why many areas of the metropolitan area suffered flooding.
In some neighborhoods the amount of water falling until 8 in the morning reached
120 millimeters
.
This is, according to data from the National Meteorological Service (SMN), normal but for the entire month of March.
The SMN explained to Clarín that the contrast between the rains this summer and the previous one is strong, because in 2023 the rainfall was
almost zero
as a result of the drought.
This summer, however, the storms and rainfall were a mark of the season, hand in hand with the El Niño phenomenon.
“The rains are between
50 and 120 millimeters
in different neighborhoods.
And 120 is the normal rainfall in the City of Buenos Aires for all of March,” explained Cindy Fernández, meteorologist and spokesperson for the SMN.
Sources from the Buenos Aires Government, a district that cut off the water a few minutes before the SMN data, said that “almost 100 millimeters fell in some neighborhoods such as Mataderos, Palermo and Parque Avellaneda, in the report until 7:30 am.” .
In addition, they highlighted that Parque Avellaneda is the neighborhood where the strongest storm was recorded with
almost 60 millimeters in 1 hour
.
Although the average rainfall in March is 120 millimeters, there were years in which rainfall exceeded
400 millimeters
, as observed from statistics covering the period 1961-2023.
The
El Niño phenomenon
consolidated its impact on the climate towards the end of last year and, according to experts, its weight would already be beginning to decrease, despite the fact that atypical
climatic events
like the one this Tuesday are still occurring.
According to the SMN report, “according to the dynamic and statistical models, on average in the March, April and May quarter, there is a 75 percent probability that Niño conditions will continue,” when at its peak it reached 100 percent.
There are even already forecasts that La Niña could be present again next spring, which generates concern especially in the countryside, where they warn that water reserves were not abundant enough to sustain future production smoothly.
The rains are not only a real-time disruption to daily activity, but the worst in terms of public health comes later.
The risk of the accumulation of stagnant water increases in home environments and with it the possibility of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, transmitter of dengue, reproducing more easily.
That is why the Government is on alert and has already issued a warning so that people make the necessary efforts to prevent these situations from occurring.
For example, by frequently cleaning containers that accumulate water, even if they are small, both inside and outside the home.
Also, cover or cover large containers such as drums or elevated tanks with mosquito netting and clean gutters;
brush the waterers and change the water daily;
and keep swimming pools chlorinated and – when not in use – covered.”
P.S.