Violent hailstorm causes raging flash floods outside of Madrid

A violent hailstorm buried parts of Spain in ice Monday evening, wreaking havoc across the country’s eastern region.

Photos and videos shared across social media depict the town of Arganda del Rey, located about 20 miles outside Madrid, in a state of chaos as raging floodwaters swept cars and other debris through the streets.

The dangerous weather pattern resulted in multiple flights being diverted from Madrid’s Barajas International Airport, as well as delays and suspensions across the city’s underground metro system. 

Scenes from the storm: 11 PHOTOSViolent hailstorm causes raging flash floods outside of MadridSee GalleryViolent hailstorm causes raging flash floods outside of MadridMi razonamiento no llega a entender como todavía hay personas que no reaccionan al cambio climático. Arganda del R… https://t.co/pvHuYOvQCzLas fuertes lluvias en Madrid han dejado imágenes como estas: contenedores, motos y coches arrastrados por el agua… https://t.co/lnSgd4t4LrIntense flooding under a major severe hailstorm in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain this evening, August 26th! Report… https://t.co/Uynzs1jo4AAsí ha quedado lleno de #granizo el interior del mercado de Arganda del Rey tras la #tormenta. https://t.co/PLyuCUzYMbIntense floods under a severe hailstorm in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain yesterday, August 26th. Report: Vlasan Gi… https://t.co/Ntw3JpIAOKMás en Arganda del Rey Me lo pasan por WhatsApp https://t.co/5lidaBncT4Flash floods caused by heavy hail storms swept through Madrid on Monday, transforming roads into rivers and bringin… https://t.co/kjUJbhWzpAVideo taken by residents in the Spanish capital of Madrid show flooded streets following heavy rains. The footage w… https://t.co/7QijHKX63z¡¡Brutal #ArgandaDelRey!! ? Vídeo vía @PadelKass https://t.co/mPM8NNqkBFTorrencial aguacero cae sobre Madrid, arrastrando vehículos a su paso en zonas como Arganda del Rey, una de las más… https://t.co/KofsDafdR1Granizo caído en la #Tormenta de Arganda del Rey hace un ratito y todavía sigue lloviendo. https://t.co/NJ8fL6PK5AUp Next

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Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Madrid region, said firefighters responded to more than 200 calls in the storm’s aftermath, which left homes and shops throughout multiple cities filled with ice and water, The Guardian reports.

However, meteorologist Benito Fuentes told Spanish outlet El Pais that despite the storm’s severity, patterns such as this are not uncharacteristic for August.

“The rain has been fairly heavy but it is not unusual for this time of the year. At the end of summer, the atmosphere is unstable, which causes air to rise for dynamic reasons, not thermal ones,” Fuentes said. “This leads to quite strong rainfall and storms.”

The incident is reminiscent of the June hailstorm that pelted Guadalajara, Mexico, trapping vehicles in up to three feet of ice and slush. 

“I’ve never seen such scenes in Guadalajara,” said State Governor Enrique Alfaro following the wild summer storm. “Then we ask ourselves if climate change is real. These are never-before-seen natural phenomenons. It’s incredible.”

23 PHOTOSFreak hailstorm buries Guadalajara, Mexico in 3 feet of iceSee GalleryFreak hailstorm buries Guadalajara, Mexico in 3 feet of iceTOPSHOT – A policeman stands next to vehicles buried in hail in the eastern area of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on June 30, 2019. – The accumulation of hail in the streets of Guadalajara buried vehicles and damaged homes. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)TOPSHOT – Vehicles buried in hail are seen in the streets in the eastern area of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on June 30, 2019. – The accumulation of hail in the streets of Guadalajara buried vehicles and damaged homes. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)Men remain next to trucks buried in hail in the eastern area of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on June 30, 2019. – The accumulation of hail in the streets of Guadalajara buried vehicles and damaged homes. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)A woman and a child walk on hail in the eastern area of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on June 30, 2019. – The accumulation of hail in the streets of Guadalajara buried vehicles and damaged homes. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)Residents play on top of ice after a heavy storm of rain and hail which affected some areas of the city in ??Guadalajara, Mexico June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando CarranzaA truck is buried in ice after a heavy storm of rain and hail which affected some areas of the city in ??Guadalajara, Mexico June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando CarranzaTOPSHOT – A man with a bike walks on hail in the eastern area of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on June 30, 2019. – The accumulation of hail in the streets of Guadalajara buried vehicles and damaged homes. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)Aerial view of vehicles buried in hail in the streets in the eastern area of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on June 30, 2019. – The accumulation of hail in the streets of Guadalajara buried vehicles and damaged homes. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)A woman and her dogs walk on hail in the eastern area of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on June 30, 2019. – The accumulation of hail in the streets of Guadalajara buried vehicles and damaged homes. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)TOPSHOT – A man with a bike walks on hail in the eastern area of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on June 30, 2019. – The accumulation of hail in the streets of Guadalajara buried vehicles and damaged homes. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)People remain on the sidewalk of a street covered with hail in the eastern area of Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on June 30, 2019. – The accumulation of hail in the streets of Guadalajara buried vehicles and damaged homes. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)A vehicle is seen trapped on June 30, 2019 after a hail storm fell in Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico. – A freak hail storm on Sunday struck Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most populous cities, shocking residents and trapping vehicles in a deluge of ice pellets up to two metres deep. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)Aerial view of Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico, taken on June 30, 2019 after a hail storm fell in the area. – A freak hail storm on Sunday struck Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most populous cities, shocking residents and trapping vehicles in a deluge of ice pellets up to two metres deep. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)A woman tries to clear a street of Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico, on June 30, 2019 after a hail storm fell in the area. – A freak hail storm on Sunday struck Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most populous cities, shocking residents and trapping vehicles in a deluge of ice pellets up to two metres deep. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)People are seen on June 30, 2019 in a street of Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico, after a hail storm fell in the area. – A freak hail storm on Sunday struck Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most populous cities, shocking residents and trapping vehicles in a deluge of ice pellets up to two metres deep. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)Picture of a street of Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico, taken on June 30, 2019 after a hail storm fell in the area. – A freak hail storm on Sunday struck Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most populous cities, shocking residents and trapping vehicles in a deluge of ice pellets up to two metres deep. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)Picture of a street of Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico, taken on June 30, 2019 after a hail storm fell in the area. – A freak hail storm on Sunday struck Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most populous cities, shocking residents and trapping vehicles in a deluge of ice pellets up to two metres deep. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP)(Photo credit should read ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)Soldiers try to clear away ice as residents look on after a heavy storm of rain and hail which affected some areas of the city in ??Guadalajara, Mexico June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando CarranzaTrucks are buried in ice after a heavy storm of rain and hail which affected some areas of the city in ??Guadalajara, Mexico June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando CarranzaSoldiers try to clear away ice after a heavy storm of rain and hail which affected some areas of the city in ??Guadalajara, Mexico June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando CarranzaREFILE – REMOVING ILLEGAL CHARACTER IN CAPTION Security forces and soldiers try to clear away ice after a heavy storm of rain and hail which affected some areas of the city in Guadalajara, Mexico June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYA truck carries ice as it cleans the street after a heavy storm of rain and hail which affected some areas of the city in ??Guadalajara, Mexico June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando CarranzaResidents play on top of ice after a heavy storm of rain and hail which affected some areas of the city in ??Guadalajara, Mexico June 30, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando CarranzaUp Next

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