Else Beekman
Madrid endured a powerful hailstorm on Wednesday that caused considerable damage across the city. The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) had already issued an orange alert, warning residents of the heavy rain and storms on the way.
During a live broadcast of Más Vale Tarde on La Sexta, presenters Iñaki López and Cristina Pardo stepped outside the Atresmedia studios to witness the storm first-hand. As hail hammered down, Cristina exclaimed, “Look at what’s coming down!” Iñaki showed one of the large hailstones that had fallen in San Sebastián de los Reyes, visibly surprised by its size. Many compared the size with golf, and ping pong balls.
“There may be serious damage,” Iñaki remarked. Cristina added that even her colleague’s property had suffered. “Yes, my terrace has been badly damaged. I’ll need to contact the insurance company,” Iñaki commented, before adding with a half-smile, “And our car’s still sitting out there…”
Family caught by surprise in the park
In Moraleja de Enmedio, the hailstorm was just as fierce. Dani López and Esther Herrero were at the park with their children when the hail began to fall. Taken by surprise, they huddled beneath a tree, using their backpacks to shield the children from the hailstones.
Esther ran to the car to fetch umbrellas, and together they managed to reach the vehicle with the children. Although they avoided more serious harm, both adults were injured. “We were hit on our legs, chests, and heads, but thankfully the children are fine, even if they were quite scared,” Dani said. Esther added, “My legs are badly bruised.”
Significant damage to vehicles
Their car was heavily damaged. The windscreen shattered, and large dents covered the bodywork. “Some of our neighbours’ cars are in even worse condition, with most windscreens completely smashed,” Dani said. Despite the extensive damage, Esther emphasised, “The most important thing is that no one was seriously hurt.”
Widespread property damage across Madrid
The storm caught many Madrid residents by surprise. Especially, as it followed several days of intense heat. Light rain began shortly before 6:00 p.m. Hereafter, within minutes, it turned into a heavy hailstorm that lasted for over fifteen minutes. People walking in the streets had to look for sudden shelter as hailstones, some larger than two centimetres, pelted down. Shattered windows, dislodged roof tiles and flooded terraces in multiple neighbourhoods across the capital are the results of this extreme weather mid-June.
Golf-ball-sized hailstorm devastates El Ejido, damages greenhouses and homes