40 Centimeters of Hail Buries Tulcán — Over 50 Homes Flooded in Northern Border City

What Happened

On Sunday afternoon, April 26, a severe hailstorm struck Tulcán — Ecuador's northernmost city, located on the Colombian border in Carchi province.

The accumulation was extraordinary: hail reached depths exceeding 40 centimeters (nearly 16 inches) across multiple neighborhoods. That's not a dusting — that's knee-deep ice.

Damage Assessment

• Over 50 homes flooded across multiple neighborhoods
• Two landslides on the E-35 highway (the Pan-American Highway): one near the El Carmelo parish turnoff, another on Avenida Centenario
• Neighborhoods affected: Ciudadela 19 de Noviembre (most severe — southern entrance to the city), Vivienda Popular, Barrio Oriental, Ciudadela Simón Bolívar, Ciudadela Nuevo Tulcán, Las Tejerías y México, Barrio La Victoria, Mercado del Sur, La Rinconada, and others

The Tulcán Fire Department deployed to multiple neighborhoods. No injuries were reported in the available coverage.

Context

Tulcán sits at 2,957 meters elevation — higher than Quito or Cuenca — making it particularly vulnerable to severe hail events. The storm hit after 3:00 PM, consistent with the late-afternoon convective pattern typical of highland Ecuador during the transition between wet and dry seasons.

This comes during a broader INAMHI Alert #30 warning of variable-intensity rainfall across the Sierra through April 29.

What This Means for Expats

If you're traveling to Colombia by land: The E-35 (Pan-American Highway) passes directly through Tulcán en route to Ipiales and beyond. The two landslides near El Carmelo and Avenida Centenario may still be affecting traffic. Check road conditions before departing.

If you live in the northern highlands (Otavalo, Cotacachi, Ibarra): You're in the same weather system. While Tulcán bore the worst, severe afternoon hail events can occur at any high-altitude location during this season.

For all highland expats: 40 cm of hail is extreme but not unprecedented at these elevations. If you live above 2,500 meters:

• Clear roof drains regularly — ice accumulation causes backup flooding
• Park vehicles under cover when afternoon storms build
• Avoid driving during heavy hailstorms — visibility drops to near-zero and roads become impassable

Insurance note: Standard Ecuadorian home insurance typically covers hail and flood damage, but verify your policy includes daños por granizo specifically. If you're renting, your landlord's policy likely covers the structure but not your contents.

Source: El Universo