From the eye of the storm

Heavy rains have caused millions of dollars in damage to agriculture across Chile, with avocados and citrus crops being among the hardest hit. The extreme weather event has triggered maximum alerts from the Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC) stretching from the Atacama Region to the Los Lagos Region. Intense rainfall has led to widespread power outages, preventive evacuations, infrastructure damage, and fatalities. The agricultural sector has suffered significant losses, with Rodrigo Gil, manager of the Agricultural Fields area at Colliers, estimating total damages exceeding $200 million. If the front system maintains its strength, particularly with heavy rains expected between Monday and Tuesday, current damages could easily double. Southern regions, especially the Biobío area, have experienced the highest proportion of damage due to the largest planting surface. Northern areas, including Huasco, Alto del Carmen, and Illapel, faced exacerbated impacts due to inadequate preparation for such rains. Flash floods from activated streams and sudden river rises submerged fields. In Illapel, strong winds blew off barn roofs, ruining stored feed and leaving goats without their essential sustenance, according to Gil. In the central zone, spanning from Coquimbo to the O'Higgins Region, the main threat was wind rather than water. Strong air currents caused a "brutal drop" of fruit directly from trees, severely impacting economically significant crops like avocados. The climate phenomenon left severe damage to agricultural infrastructure, with Gil highlighting serious damage to irrigation systems, particularly electrical installations near rivers, and the widespread destruction of greenhouse plastics unable to withstand the intensity of the winds. President of the National Society of Agriculture (SNA), Antonio Walker, noted the greatest damage occurred in rural communes of Coquimbo and Valparaíso, including sectors like La Ligua, Cabildo, and Petorca. He confirmed severe problems with irrigation equipment, sheds, and dams that were overwhelmed by extreme water concentrations not designed for such conditions. The event has heavily impacted small-scale family farming, especially in the Ñuble region, which he described as the "most complicated" aspect of the weather front. Walker warned that while the current front mainly affects infrastructure and winter harvests, highlighting citrus and avocados, the real threat to fruit exports comes in the next few months. Citrus crops are particularly vulnerable during the "pinta" stage, when fruits begin to take color and accumulate sugar. Rainfall during this period can cause delicate fruits like cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, and table grapes to split entirely, ruining the entire harvest. Despite the severity of the weather front, Víctor Catán, president of Fedefruta, stated there are no major damages among his more than 4,000 associates, emphasizing the resilience and preparedness of the agricultural community. According to the latest report from Senapred, despite the intensity of the rains and winds, there have been four deaths and one missing person, 21 destroyed homes, 544 with major damage, and 1,652 affected individuals, demonstrating the country's resilience and preparedness. The situation highlights Chile's vulnerability to climate risks, as outlined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, noting that Chile is among the countries most exposed to mega-droughts and atmospheric rivers like the one currently affecting the nation. In the Metropolitan Region, 101.5 mm of rain fell over 48 hours, the second-highest record for July since 1914. Low temperatures helped maintain the 0°C isotherm at low altitude, accumulating snow in the pre-cordillera, preventing flash floods and ensuring the supply of drinking water. It is expected that temperatures will remain low and avoid rain on snow in the coming days, allowing flood control works like the Macul stream and flood parks such as Víctor Jara in the Zanjón de la Aguada and La Hondonada in Pudahuel to function within their design capacities, confirming that green and blue infrastructure is more efficient against concentrated precipitation than traditional closed channel solutions, protecting lower city areas. In some regions, the situation has been more critical, yet they have shown readiness for such events. Special mention goes to the resilience of Mayor Rodrigo Vera and residents of Penco, who, amid the reconstruction process following the January mega-fire, faced a "climate tsunami" in Cerro Verde Bajo and Lirquén with waves up to 10 meters and 1 meter of sand accumulation on streets and homes. Wind speeds ranging from 75 to 100 km/h in certain cities posed challenges for electricity distribution companies, despite preventive measures like pruning hooks, making it impossible to predict the thousands of fallen trees whose roots lose support as the soil becomes saturated. Until legislation allows for the mass adoption of smart digital meters, crews will need to visually inspect power lines to detect and repair faults, losing crucial hours for communities and those dependent on electricity. The system frontal affecting the Coquimbo Region has already recorded up to 214 mm of rain, with La Serena surpassing the annual average by 38%. According to Elio Brufort from the DMC, the station in La Florida has recorded 59.8 mm of rain, while Ovalle has accumulated 122.6 mm. The highest readings reported by the DMC are from the Cerro Tololo station, where 214.2 mm of rain has been recorded. Other stations include Vicuña with 89.4 mm, Monte Patria with 137.5 mm, and Salamanca with 197 mm. For La Florida, the usual annual rainfall is 51.2 mm, but so far this year, 70.8 mm has been recorded, representing a 38.3% surplus. Precipitations are expected to continue in the Coquimbo Region until Tuesday night, with new amounts projected for Monday and Tuesday.