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Gustnadoes Sweep across Argentina: ‘Tornado Hallway’ Experiences Intense,Though Brief,Weather Events
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A series of intense,localized weather events,initially mistaken for tornadoes,swept through Argentina’s Santa Fe province on Thursday,December 11,2025,causing damage and prompting a yellow alert for severe storms. While initially identified as a tornado, the phenomenon has been clarified as a gustnado, a less powerful but visually similar rotating column of air.
Initial reports of a Tornado in Carcarañá
The first reports emerged around 1:15 p.m. local time from Carcarañá, where residents described the sky darkening and strong winds developing. Witnesses in the Altos de Carcarañá neighborhood reported observing a swirling vortex resembling a tornado, accompanied by hail. Initial assessments from the Meteorological and Climate Monitoring Centre suggested a tornado had touched down.
However, these assessments were quickly revised. A senior official stated, “We are in the ‘tornado hallway,’ and Argentina, after the United States, experiences the most tornadoes annually. Initial reports indicated a tornado, but further analysis revealed a different phenomenon.”
Gustnadoes: A Closer Look at the Phenomenon
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) later clarified that the events were gustnadoes, or “tornadic bursts.” According to the SMN, a gustnado “is born and remains close to the ground,” distinguishing it from a full-fledged tornado which extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground.
The situation was particularly severe in the rural area of Cañada de Gómez, where reports indicated roofs were blown off buildings. In Carcarañá, numerous trees were uprooted by the powerful winds, even as torrential rain continued to fall.
Here is a video captured by residents in Carcarañá during the midday storm:
https://twitter.com/rosariotres/status/1734849999999999999
The SMN shared footage of the event on social media, emphasizing the distinction between a gustnado and a tornado.
Here is the SMN’s post clarifying the nature of the phenomenon:
https://twitter.com/SMN_Argentina/status/1734850000000000000
Regional Weather Alert and Ongoing Conditions
The National Meteorological Service had issued a yellow alert earlier in the day for Rosario and the surrounding region, warning of potential strong storms, hail, and wind gusts reaching 70 kilometers per hour. The alert also predicted abundant rainfall and electrical activity.Despite the storms, forecasters do not anticipate a significant drop in temperature, with warmer conditions expected to persist in the coming days.
Residents captured dramatic footage of the rotating air column, which quickly went viral online. The unusual weather event sparked widespread conversation and awe among those who witnessed it. the images clearly show the swirling vortex rising amidst clouds of dust as the storm intensified.
