A severe storm with gusts up to 80 km/h hit the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) on Tuesday midday, causing fallen trees, damaged structures, and over 40,000 power outages. The National Meteorological Service had issued a yellow alert for storms. Conditions improved in the afternoon.
The storm struck the AMBA at midday on March 17, 2026, bringing intense rain, wind gusts up to 80 km/h, and hail, according to meteorological records. Temperatures dropped sharply from 28.4 °C to 20 °C within an hour, with winds shifting from northeast to southwest. The National Meteorological Service (SMN) had issued a yellow alert for storms with potential intense rain, lightning, and strong gusts. No further precipitation was expected that night, with temperatures around 22 °C, and stable conditions in coming days, though possible rain by the weekend. Damages included trees falling in Parque Lezama near the playground area and in Villa Lugano's plaza Nicolás Granada. City personnel cleared branches and trunks. At Lugano Tenis Club, winds tore off the pool's canvas roof, dragged diving boards, damaged a soccer field roof, and broke windows. An employee recounted: “Se escuchó un estruendo y después vimos que el natatorio se había quedado sin techo” (There was a loud bang and then we saw the pool had lost its roof). In Moreno, the outer wall of the Vital wholesale supermarket collapsed, scattering debris. In Puerto Madero, a window cleaner got tangled in ropes and was rescued. Fallen light poles and damaged vehicles were reported. Power outages peaked at 14:10, affecting 28,678 Edesur customers and 16,247 Edenor customers, exceeding 40,000 total. Hours later, over 30,000 remained affected.
