The bursts of wind shook the city of Neuquén this Sunday followingnoon. The National Meteorological Service (SMN) issued a Orange alert y Gusts exceeded 100 kilometers per hour in the region.
Minutes following noon, the consequences of the storm were evident in the city. Posts, trees and billboards defeated the force of the wind, while a cloud of dust covered the sky of the city of Neuquén.
The city’s Undersecretary for the Environment and Citizen Protection, Francisco Baggio, assured LM Neuquén: “In the city of Neuquén the strongest recorded gust was 102 kilometers per hour, at 3:10 p.m.”.
As described by the official, until 5:00 p.m., 16 large fallen trees and a total of eleven branches were reported. “The most complicated neighborhood is Parque Industrial, where three trees fell,” added Baggio.
In addition, the official reported that several neighborhoods of the provincial capital, among them Centro Oeste and Santa Genoveva, were partially without electricity service.
In this way, the official stressed the importance of not leaving home unless necessary, do not park vehicles under trees and do not leave loose objects that can be blown away by the wind and cause damage. “The climatic emergency is predicted until night. It is important to take all the necessary precautions,” he asserted.
Branch over car Santa Fe street- temporary wind vertical photo.jpg
In addition to traffic complications due to the obstruction of the streets by branches and billboards, several neighborhoods in the city were left without water. From the Neuquén Provincial Water and Sanitation Entity (EPAS) they explained that some houses were affected by the low pressure that was “due to the wind and rain storm that has been recorded over the Neuquén river basina tributary of Lake Mari Menuco, the main source of drinking water supply for the capital of Neuquén”.
In addition, both in Centenario and in Plottier, the wind also knocked down trees and cut off the electricity service. Route 22, which connects Plottier with the provincial capital, had crossroads where the traffic lights did not work as a result of the high gusts.
For its part, in Centenario there were power outages in Casco Viejo, Villa Obrera and other sectors of Centenario and Vista Alegre. From the EPEN they reported that the wind exceeds 80 kilometers per hour and causes falling branches and damage to poles, they indicated that they are undergoing different interventions and requested understanding from the community in the face of the storm.
So far, a fallen tree has been reported on Los Mayas street, in front of Plaza Eva Perón and in Cuba and Puerto Argentino streets there were cables falling.
Fallen tree in teniente Ibáñez- wind storm vertical photo.jpg
