At least six neighbourhoods woke to find their streets covered in ice pellets up to two metres deep

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A freak hail storm has struck Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most populous cities, burying vehicles in a deluge of ice pellets up to two metres deep.

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“I’ve never seen such scenes in Guadalajara,” said the state governor, Enrique Alfaro.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Aerial view of vehicles buried in hail in the streets in the eastern area of Guadalajara Photograph: Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images

“Then we ask ourselves if climate change is real. These are never-before-seen natural phenomenons,” he said. “It’s incredible.”

Guadalajara, located north-west of Mexico City and with a population of around five million, has been experiencing summer temperature of around 31C (88F) in recent days.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Vehicles buried in hail are seen in the streets in the eastern area of Guadalajara Photograph: Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images

While seasonal hail storms do occur, there is no record of anything so heavy.

At least six neighbourhoods in the city outskirts woke up to ice pellets up to two metres deep.

While children scampered around and hurled iceballs at each other, civil protection personnel and soldiers brought out heavy machinery to clear the roads.

Nearly 200 homes and businesses reported hail damage, and at least 50 vehicles were swept away by the deluge of ice in hilly areas, some buried under piles of pellets.

While no casualties were reported, two people showed “early signs of hypothermia,” the state civil protection office said.