A sudden, intense hailstorm swept through La Marquesa, a popular forested recreation area located between Mexico City and Toluca, in central Mexico. The storm dropped enough hail to coat the landscape in a layer of white, giving the region a wintry look despite it being early September.
The hail also affected the Mexico City–Toluca highway, one of the busiest routes connecting the capital with the State of Mexico’s capital city, Toluca. Motorists traveling through the area faced hazardous conditions as accumulated ice covered stretches of the roadway, slowing traffic and raising safety concerns for drivers navigating the slick surface.
La Marquesa is well known among city dwellers for its outdoor activities, including horseback riding, zip-lining, and food stalls, making it a frequent weekend destination for families from both Mexico City and Toluca. Sudden hailstorms are not unusual in this high-altitude region during the rainy season, which typically runs from late spring through early fall, but the intensity of this particular storm drew attention for how dramatically it transformed the scenery in such a short time.
For the full report and additional details on the storm’s impact, check out the original article on La Jornada’s website.
Source: Intensa granizada cubre de blanco La Marquesa y afecta la México-Toluca (jornada.com.mx). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Nicholas Mutton.