Photos show freak summer hail storm coating Guadalajara's roads with 5 feet of snow and ice

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Photos show freak summer hail storm coating Guadalajara's roads with 5 feet of snow and ice

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  • Six suburbs in Guadalajara, southwestern Mexico, experienced a freak hail storm early Sunday morning.
  • The city's roads were blanketed with up to five feet of ice.
  • Dozens of vehicles were swept away, and homes were damaged. But there have been no reports of injuries or deaths.
  • State governor Enrique Alfaro tweeted that these were "scenes that I had never seen before ... we asked ourselves if climate change exists."
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A freak hail storm blanketed large parts of Guadalajara on Sunday, coating the southwestern Mexican city's roads with up to five feet of ice and snow.

The city had been experiencing temperatures of about 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit) in the days before the unexpected storm.

Dozens of vehicles were swept away, and cars and trucks were submerged by the storms. Homes and businesses also reported damage.

There have been no reports of injuries or deaths, although there were two reports of people suffering from hypothermia, according to AFP.

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Scroll down to learn more about the freak weather event through photos.

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Six suburbs in Guadalajara experienced an unexpected, heavy hail storm early Sunday morning, coating the city's highways and streets with up to five feet of ice.

Six suburbs in Guadalajara experienced an unexpected, heavy hail storm early Sunday morning, coating the city's highways and streets with up to five feet of ice.

The hail mainly hit Rancho Blanco and the Industrial Zone, which are toward the southeastern parts of the city, Governor of Jalisco state Enrique Alfaro tweeted.

Source: BBC

The city had been experiencing hot weather — with temperatures of about 31 C (88 F) — in the days running up to the event.

The city had been experiencing hot weather — with temperatures of about 31 C (88 F) — in the days running up to the event.

Source: BBC

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After the hail storm, cars that had been on the streets were half-submerged in ice. At least 50 cars were swept away by the ice in hilly areas, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

After the hail storm, cars that had been on the streets were half-submerged in ice. At least 50 cars were swept away by the ice in hilly areas, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Even large trucks were submerged. This photo shows how high the snow had risen in eastern Guadalajara.

Even large trucks were submerged. This photo shows how high the snow had risen in eastern Guadalajara.
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Some people were forced to access cars from above by using a ladder.

Some people were forced to access cars from above by using a ladder.

Mexican soldiers and civil protection personnel were dispatched from dawn to clear away the ice, Jalisco state governor Enrique Alfaro tweeted.

Mexican soldiers and civil protection personnel were dispatched from dawn to clear away the ice, Jalisco state governor Enrique Alfaro tweeted.

Source: Enrique Alfaro

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The onslaught of ice damaged nearly 200 homes and businesses, AFP reported. Here, officials help shovel ice from a building entrance.

The onslaught of ice damaged nearly 200 homes and businesses, AFP reported. Here, officials help shovel ice from a building entrance.

Source: AFP

Snow plows were also used.

Snow plows were also used.
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There were reports of flooding in the streets as ice melted.

There were reports of flooding in the streets as ice melted.

No deaths or injuries were reported, but two people showed signs of hypothermia, AFP reported, citing civil protection personnel.

No deaths or injuries were reported, but two people showed signs of hypothermia, AFP reported, citing civil protection personnel.

Source: AFP

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Some local residents came out to play after the snow and ice settled.

Some local residents came out to play after the snow and ice settled.

This girl even made a snow angel.

This girl even made a snow angel.
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While seasonal hail storms are not uncommon on Guadalajara, the severity of Sunday's phenomenon was unprecedented. Governor Alfaro tweeted that these were "scenes that I had never seen before."

While seasonal hail storms are not uncommon on Guadalajara, the severity of Sunday's phenomenon was unprecedented. Governor Alfaro tweeted that these were "scenes that I had never seen before."

Source: Enrique Alfaro/Twitter

It remains unclear exactly how the freak weather came about, but Alfaro said: "[With] the hail more than a meter high, we asked ourselves if climate change exists."

It remains unclear exactly how the freak weather came about, but Alfaro said: "[With] the hail more than a meter high, we asked ourselves if climate change exists."

Source: Enrique Alfaro/Twitter

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