Cusco has been one of the regions that was surprised by the intense drop in hail on its soil, which has caused a series of havoc in crops, homes and roads. But it has not been the only one that has endured the force of nature.
Huanuco, Huancavelica, Pasco, Junin, ayacuchoApurimac and Fist they also suffer from rainfall, and its population is seriously concerned about the problems it would cause if the fall of snow it lasts longer.
Ricardo Pajares, coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN), recalled that the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (senamhi) issued from May 7 a series of “short-term notices” for rainy and rainfall to put the entire area of the central and southern highlands of the country on alert.
“According to him senamhithe regions that were going to be impacted as a result of these precipitations range from the Sierra de La Libertad, all that is Huánuco, Huancavelica, Pasco, Junín, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco and Puno”, he explained.
In addition, he specified that with the snowfall in the cusco region practically “seven provinces and 22 districts” have been affected, apart from approximately 750 hectares of lost crops, 14 thousand dead guinea pigs and 14 affected hives.
Faced with this situation, the question asked by the population of the mountains is how long will the intense hail fall and heavy rains last.
“According to Senamhi, they have issued a bulletin in which (reveals that) there is an isolated depression at high levels that is a cold air mass that is circulating until May 13. This isolated depression is occurring at altitudes of 5,000 meters above sea level and this is going to generate a series of solid precipitations such as snow, sleet, rain and snowfall precisely in the already mentioned high Andean areas”, he said.
He indicated that this phenomenon is known as Danabut the Senamhi has named him as “Dana David”.
“At this moment we understand and we are convinced that the regional, district and provincial governments are attending with blankets and with their means that they have in their warehouses for humanitarian aid,” added Pajares.
Last Monday, May 8, the population of the Cusco region was astonished when, upon leaving their houses, they saw their tracks, sidewalks, houses, and public spaces completely covered by snow.
On the Cusco – Yaurique highway and the Quillabamba – Cusco highway, stranded vehicles were registered due to difficulties in transit due to the amount of snow on the highway.
Abraham Levy, the self-styled ‘Man of time’reported that the snowfall that was recorded in the southern sierra “can be perfectly linked to a meteorological DANA that is off the south coast.”
The former executive president of Senamhi, Patrick Valderrama explained, in RPP Newsthat in this area of the country snowfall is not common, however, there is a similar precedent in 1997the year in which the El Niño phenomenon developed.
“Snowfall occurs when there is a fairly cold rainstorm, but the atmosphere is below freezing. The air temperature is below 0°C”, he pointed out and explained that the water droplets that fall from very high clouds cool down on the way to the earth and create a Snowflake. “That is what precipitates to the ground and it is the phenomenon that we have had,” he said.
The intense snowfall also affected tourists who had scheduled tours in the different attractions offered by the Imperial City. Through social networks they reported that the Mountain of Seven Colors was covered by a white cloak.
