The strong wind uprooted trees, streetlights, and awnings over a stretch of 500 meters during Tuesday's storm. There were no injuries, but the material damage necessitated the mobilization of firefighters and municipal crews.
Carrilet Avenue in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat woke up on Tuesday to the desolate sight of uprooted trees, bent streetlights, and damaged vehicles after an intense wind burst that lasted only a few minutes. The phenomenon, which occurred during a storm that hit the metropolitan area of Barcelona, did not cause any injuries but resulted in significant material damage over a stretch of about 500 meters.
The Firefighters of the Generalitat received around thirty reports related to the storm, according to sources from the department. Their teams worked throughout the morning to remove trees and branches at risk of falling, as well as to inspect facades and roofs to prevent further collapses. Meanwhile, municipal crews began cleaning and repairing the affected area.
Residents of Carrilet Avenue reported that the wind arrived “suddenly and with unusual force.” Some claimed to have heard a loud noise before witnessing from their windows how trees fell and various elements of urban furniture were blown away. Others stated they had never witnessed an episode of this nature in the neighbourhood and described the aftermath as atypical for a conventional storm.
The L'Hospitalet City Council has temporarily relocated a summer camp that was taking place in the centre as a preventive measure, due to the affected awning. The mayor, David Quirós, highlighted the coordination between emergency services and noted that it was a highly localized phenomenon that had not been anticipated by weather forecasts.
According to the Firefighters, this is a thermal burst, a rare meteorological phenomenon that occurs when a mass of cold air descends rapidly from a storm cloud and, upon reaching the ground, violently expands in all directions. The high temperatures recorded during the day favoured the occurrence of this extreme episode.
The storm hit the metropolitan area of Barcelona for about half an hour, but the moment of greatest violence was very brief. That short interval was enough to uproot trees, displace motorcycles, tear awnings, and necessitate the mobilization of emergency services. However, the burst was particularly concentrated on Carrilet Avenue, where the damage was most visible.
Affected residents have been able to return to their homes without incidents, although some have had to remove their vehicles damaged by fallen branches and streetlights. The City Council has set up a support service for those needing to process insurance claims or request assistance for the damages.
Cleaning services will continue over the next few hours to remove the remnants of vegetation and urban furniture. Citizens are advised to avoid the area until the repair of the damaged infrastructure is completed.
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