On November 23, 2025, the city of Erechim in southern Brazil experienced a violent hailstorm that left hundreds injured and caused widespread destruction to vehicles, homes, and crops.
With hailstones reportedly as large as golf balls and a sudden onset that caught many residents off guard, the event has become a stark example of how extreme weather can rapidly escalate into a local disaster.
The Erechim Hailstorm: What Happened on November 23, 2025?
In the late afternoon, Erechim’s skies darkened as a fast-moving storm system approached.
At first, residents noticed only thickening clouds and minimal rainfall, with little indication that a severe event was imminent.
This deceptive calm quickly gave way to a barrage of large hailstones driven by powerful downdrafts.
Witness accounts describe hail reaching sizes comparable to golf balls, striking the ground and built structures with enough force to shatter glass and dent metal.
One of the most widely shared pieces of documentation came from driver Jeferson Gregula, who recorded video from his car as the hailstorm intensified.
Documented in Real Time: Windshields Smashed and Streets Transformed
Gregula’s footage captures the sudden escalation from a darkened sky to an assault of ice.
In the video, hailstones can be seen smashing into his vehicle with such force that they broke his windshield and pounded the bodywork.
His description of the event as *unprecedented* for Erechim underscores the extraordinary nature of this storm.
Local residents reported similar scenes across the city: streets rapidly turning white with accumulating ice, visibility dropping, and the sound of hailstones striking roofs, windows, and cars echoing through neighborhoods.
Within minutes, what began as an ordinary overcast day had become a life-threatening situation.
Damage, Injuries, and the State of Emergency
The storm’s destructive power led Erechim authorities to declare a state of emergency, enabling a more rapid mobilization of resources, emergency services, and relief measures.
Initial assessments indicated extensive physical damage and a significant human toll.
According to local reports, at least 200 people were injured, many by shattered glass, falling debris, and direct impacts from large hailstones.
Hospital and clinic staff quickly shifted into emergency response mode to treat lacerations, contusions, and other trauma-related injuries.
Vehicles, Buildings, and Crops: A Multi-Sector Impact
The hail left a distinct signature of destruction across multiple sectors of the community:
Gregula’s remark that the storm created “major holes” in both vehicles and buildings is consistent with hail of this size and density.
Repeated high-velocity impacts can compromise roofs, siding, and glazing systems, leading not only to immediate damage but also to longer-term issues such as water infiltration and mold.
Extreme Weather and a Changing Risk Landscape
While any single storm cannot be solely attributed to climate change, events like the Erechim hailstorm fit into a broader pattern of increasing weather volatility observed in many regions worldwide.
Warmer atmospheres can hold more moisture and, under the right conditions, can fuel more intense convective storms capable of producing large hail.
In southern Brazil, shifts in atmospheric circulation, sea-surface temperatures, and regional climate patterns may be contributing to a higher frequency of severe convective events.
For local communities, this translates to a changing risk profile—one that demands improved forecasting, infrastructure resilience, and public awareness.
Building Resilience: Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies
Although hailstorms develop on relatively short timescales, their impacts can be mitigated through planning and adaptation.
Key strategies include:
Here is the source article for this story: SEE IT: Residents in Brazil are pounded with hailstones shattering a windshield, injuring at least 200