Strong storm disrupted Aeroparque operations

A powerful and unexpected storm hit Buenos Aires on Tuesday evening, bringing operations at Jorge Newbery Airport to a complete standstill. The disruption came one day before Christmas Eve, when airports are typically packed with travelers. At the airport, heavy rain and lightning triggered safety protocols that prohibited refueling and aircraft movement on the runway. This caused disruption that affected both departures to domestic destinations and arrivals scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. “At Aeroparque, a red alert was issued on Tuesday, 23, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., which resulted in 11 aircraft waiting on the tarmac,” sources from the sector told the Buenos Aires Herald. The sudden storm took ground staff by surprise. In the area, visibility was reduced to just a few meters, forcing pilots to hold aircraft in patterns or divert them to alternative airports, mainly Ezeiza, which has also faced delays. What will the weather be like this week? For Wednesday, Christmas Eve, the National Meteorological Service issued a short-term alert yesterday afternoon, warning of intense storms, heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and occasional hail in the eastern part of Buenos Aires province.  Storms are forecast across half of the provinces in the country, with heavy rainfall expected particularly in central Argentina. A severe storm alert is currently in place for Greater Buenos Aires.  For Thursday, December 25, the agency expects the weather to improve. No rain is forecast in the city or its suburbs, with mostly cloudy skies in the early morning, gradually becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures will range between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Friday, marking the end of Christmas week, will see partly cloudy skies and a renewed heat wave. The weather service forecasts lows around 22°C, with a high of 33°C. With information from Ambito.com