Executive Summary for the strong Winds and Rainfall Across Argentina
Meteorological conditions indicate a concentrated 12–36-hour window of strong winds and rainfall beginning the evening of 24 February and tapering by 25 February. Expected hazards include gusts up to 100 km/h, localized flash flooding and temporary transport disruption. Overall severity is moderate, with impacts likely to remain localized and recovery expected within 48–72 hours barring secondary infrastructure damage.
- Date of Event: 24 February
- Location: Argentina – Andes mountain range, Santiago del Estero, Santa Cruz, Chubut, Río Negro, La Pampa, City of Buenos Aires, Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Province
- Risk Category: Environment
- Severity Score: 3 / 5
- Confidence Level: 75 %
What is Risk Analysis in the Context of Environment Events
Environmental risk analysis evaluates the impact of meteorological hazards such as strong winds, heavy rainfall and flash flooding on infrastructure, public safety and economic activity. In Argentina, yellow-alert wind and rain events during the late-summer transition frequently generate gusts of 60–100 km/h and short-duration urban flooding. These episodes typically cause localized infrastructure damage, transport disruption and temporary power outages. Monitoring severe weather alerts and implementing structured response protocols are essential to reduce exposure to operational disruption and safety incidents.
Known Hotspots and Sensitive Areas
High Impact:
- Greater Buenos Aires, including low-lying districts of La Plata and Tigre Delta
- Central Buenos Aires corridors such as Avenida 9 de Julio intersections
- Coastal sectors and Río de la Plata access points
Medium Impact:
- Provincial routes in Córdoba and Santa Fe corridors
- Patagonia provinces including Chubut, Río Negro and Santa Cruz
Low Impact:
- Elevated inland areas with lower flood exposure
Late-summer convective systems historically produce short, intense gust and rainfall events across these regions.
Impact on Transportation and Services
Strong winds may down trees and signage, causing temporary road closures on major radial routes including RN 3 and RN 9 approaches to Buenos Aires. Urban flash flooding could disrupt commuter rail services on Mitre, Roca and Sarmiento lines if debris impacts overhead lines. Regional flight delays and ferry suspensions in Delta areas are possible. Localized power outages may occur where branches damage distribution lines, affecting telecommunications and digital services. Businesses without resilient infrastructure may experience short-term operational delays and staff access challenges.
Recommended Actions
Immediate Actions:
- Activate site-level weather watch protocols and conduct asset walkdowns.
- Secure loose outdoor materials and reinforce temporary structures.
- Authorize remote work and suspend non-essential travel during peak wind periods.
- Pre-position emergency lighting, drainage pumps and first-aid kits.
Strategic Measures:
- Coordinate with provincial civil defence and meteorological services for real-time alerts.
- Strengthen continuity planning for logistics corridors and backup facilities.
- Conduct post-event assessments within 48 hours for insurance and regulatory documentation.
Multidimensional Impact
Concurrent labour actions and planned transport disruptions may amplify recovery timelines. Reduced municipal response capacity could extend outage restoration and traffic normalization in affected urban areas.
Emergency Contacts
- Emergency Services:911
Final Thoughts
The forecasted wind and rainfall event presents a moderate environmental risk concentrated within a defined 12–36-hour window. While impacts are expected to remain localized, transport disruption and power outages may affect business continuity in Greater Buenos Aires and provincial corridors. Organizations should prioritize personnel safety, secure critical assets and maintain real-time monitoring.
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