This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
On July 1, 2019, a freak hail storm struck the Mexican city of Guadalajara, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
"I've never seen such scenes in Guadalajara," said state governor Enrique Alfaro, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the storm.
Guadalajara, a city of around five million people located north of Mexico City, experienced summer temperatures of around 31 Centigrade (88 Fahrenheit) in the days leading up to the storm.
While seasonal hail storms do occur, there is no record of anything so heavy, with ice pellets reported to be up to two meters deep in at least six neighborhoods on the city outskirts.
Children took to the streets, hurling iceballs at each other, as Civil Protection personnel and soldiers brought out heavy machinery to clear the roads.
Nearly 200 homes and businesses reported hail damage, and at least 50 vehicles were swept away by the deluge of ice in hilly areas, some buried under piles of pellets.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported, although two people showed "early signs of hypothermia," according to the state Civil Protection office.
