On Wednesday afternoon, a storm accompanied by heavy hail in Uruapan, Michoacan, caused considerable damage to the homes built with cardboard sheets and wood, the nurseries that produce avocado plants, and the avocado producing orchards. The damage, however, has not been quantified because the rains didn't stop until dusk.
The region of Uruapan is the producer of avocado at the national level. Most of the avocado exported to the United States, Canada and Europe, comes from the municipalities of this region of Michoacan.
On Tuesday there was some rain and hail in an area of the Meseta Purepecha but there was no serious damage reported. However, the rain and hail on Wednesday afternoon had a greater force and intensity and affected a broad region of Uruapan.
A white blanket of hail and water covered the streets, avenues, and roads of the city. The damage caused by the hail was almost total in the open road to Patzcuaro, in the suburbs of Toreo el Bajo y el Alto, which holds the largest number of nurseries for the production of avocado plant.
The avocado orchards in that also suffered considerable damages in their flowers, leaves and small fruit that were hit by huge hailstones; some workers in the orchards said the damage was irreversible so the production for the next season won't be what they previously expected.
The Association of Producers, Packers and Exporters of Avocado (Apeam) will assess the damage; State Civil Protection recommends caution.
Source: Mimorelia.com