Downpour in Guadalajara metropolitan area uproots trees and damages shopping centers
A powerful downpour accompanied by strong wind gusts that swept through the Guadalajara metropolitan area in the Mexican state of Jalisco on Sunday uprooted trees, caused water to accumulate on roads and damaged shopping centers in Guadalajara and Zapopan. This was reported by Mexico News Daily.
In Zapopan, civil protection services and firefighters recorded at least 13 fallen trees, mainly in the central part of the city. One of them fell on Patria Avenue near the Los Colomos urban forest and blocked traffic.
In Guadalajara, initial reports mentioned another seven fallen trees. The effects of the bad weather were recorded, among other places, at the intersections of Pablo Neruda and Circuito Madrigal, Terranova and Buenos Aires, Manuel Diéguez and José María Vigil, as well as Patria and Alberta. Authorities removed branches and trunks, cleared streets and reduced risks for pedestrians and drivers.
Damage to shopping centers
At the Andares shopping center in the Puerta de Hierro district of Zapopan, it was reported that water leaked through the roof of a department store and damaged merchandise. At the Midtown shopping center on López Mateos Avenue in Guadalajara, wind gusts tore glass panels from the roof. The debris fell into the food court, where visitors were sheltering from the bad weather. No one was injured in the incident.
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The downpour also reportedly caused power outages in several areas of the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Electricity was restored there on Monday morning.
Rainfall forecast and Lake Chapala level
Mexico's National Water Commission, Conagua, forecast an 80% chance of rainfall in Guadalajara and a 40% chance in Zapopan. At the same time, heavy rains this year have not resulted in a significant recovery in the level of Lake Chapala, the main water supply source for the metropolitan area. According to Conagua, its filling level stands at 69%, which is 6% higher than at the beginning of June.
Water resources management specialist Josué Sánchez Tapetillo told the newspaper El Informador that the lake's level has risen by approximately 46 centimeters during the current rainy season. According to him, the pace of recovery is slower than in previous years, but there is no cause for concern because the rainy season has not yet ended.
