Heavy hailstorm paints several communities of San Marcos, in Guatemala, white

The video records an intense rain and hailstorm impacting crop fields and vegetation. In the following images, the accumulation of a white layer of hail can be seen covering the ground, streets, and green areas of the town. Social Media An intense hailstorm covered streets, rooftops, and green areas in white in several parts of the department of San Marcos, in western Guatemala, on the afternoon of October 1. The phenomenon, recorded in the village of Pueblo Viejo in the municipality of Río Blanco and in communities of the municipality of Concepción Tutuapa, created a landscape that residents compared to a snowfall and which quickly went viral on social media. The images shared on digital platforms show a thick layer of ice accumulated on the ground, similar to what a snowstorm would leave behind, while the sky took on a grayish tone as a result of the intensity of the rain that accompanied the hail. Río Blanco and Concepción Tutuapa, both located in the highlands of the department of San Marcos, were the hardest hit by the falling ice. A hailstorm accumulated layers of ice in the municipalities of Río Blanco and Concepción Tutuapa, in the department of San Marcos. (Social Media) The episode in San Marcos was not an isolated event within Guatemalan territory. Also on October 1, Guatemala City also recorded rain accompanied by wind and hail in different areas of the capital, according to the Guatemala Municipality, which identified damage in zones 2, 6, 17, 18, 24, and 25. The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (Insivumeh) had anticipated electrical activity and severe local storms for that day. The meteorological agency also projected that the advance of easterly wave number 42 would increase rainfall in the following days across the national territory, with the greatest accumulations concentrated in the west of the country, the bocacosta, the valleys of the east, and the mountainous areas, where a combination of strong winds, thunderstorms, and possible hail was forecast. The greatest accumulations were expected in the west of the country, the bocacosta, the valleys of the east, and the mountainous areas. In those areas, the forecast included strong winds, thunderstorms, and the possibility of new hailstorms. The San Marcos storm occurred at the beginning of October, a month for which Insivumeh projected rainfall below the historical average. The agency predicted that the rains would be concentrated mainly in the first and last week of the month. The anticipated reduction in rainfall does not eliminate the risks associated with precipitation concentrated in short periods. The irregular distribution maintains the possibility of flash floods, flooding, and landslides in vulnerable areas. Areas near the volcanic chain also face the risk of lahars descending, along with mudslides and debris carried by water. These conditions can be triggered during heavy rains, even when the total monthly precipitation is below usual levels. A hailstorm accumulated layers of ice in the municipalities of Río Blanco and Concepción Tutuapa, in the department of San Marcos. (Social Media) Despite the isolated hailstorms recorded in the first days of October, Insivumeh estimates that the month will close with rainfall below the historical average, marking the beginning of the transition toward the cold season in Guatemala. The agency predicts that the rains will be concentrated mainly during the first and last week of the month. The irregular distribution of rainfall, however, maintains the risk of flash floods, flooding, and landslides in vulnerable areas of the country, particularly in areas near the volcanic chain, where there is also a threat from descending lahars. According to a report by the Guatemalan News Agency, around 210 municipalities had reported crop losses as of October 1, while the country remained under an orange alert due to weather conditions. The cold season in Guatemala usually begins during the second half of October, although Insivumeh's monthly forecast does not, for now, contemplate the arrival of cold fronts into the national territory.