Southeasterly winds affect BA

Several northern and southern districts of Greater Buenos Aires were affected by violent southeasterly winds yesterday, which caused flooding due to a sharp rise in water levels in the River Plate. The National Weather Service (SMN) reported that the flood’s peak was expected for last night with winds reaching speeds of up to 90 kilometres per hour.

Quilmes, Ensenada, Berisso and Tigre were the most affected districts. Buenos Aires provincial authorities prepared itself for the evacuation of possible victims in Ensenada, where the area near the Punta Lara resort was flooded, as well as other coastal areas.

According to the SMN, the level of the River Plate reached 2.4 metres, while its normal level is 80 centimetres. The weather service forecast weather conditions would worsen in the early hours of the morning and issued an alert for strong winds and gusts until this afternoon.

Pablo Acosta, Civil Defence director in the Greater Buenos Aires district of Berisso, said the state of alert was still on and estimated that the River Plate’s level could reach 3.10 metres. The operation is “underway, we have the boats ready to go out and firefighters prepared in the case of an emergency,” stated Acosta.

In Tigre, a northern coastal district, floodwaters covered a 30-block distance from the coast but no residents were evacuated, municipal sources reported.

Buenos Aires provincial Social Development Minister Martín Ferré said yesterday the situation was being closely monitored by his department, adding that “no victims were evacuated yet, but we do have flooding.” The provincial minister then said “we are on alert, but this is not an emergency situation.”

The phenomenon, known as “Sudestada” (Southeasterly winds), also affected Buenos Aires City. The City saw strong winds, showers and waves bursting against the Costanera Norte esplanade.

Herald with DyN, Telam