Honduras: Hailstorm blankets Intibucá and destroys potato crops

An unexpected hailstorm surprised residents of Intibucá yesterday, who woke up to find streets, roofs, and homes covered in a white layer similar to snow. The phenomenon, captured in videos that went viral on social media, caused both astonishment and concern.

Images released by the Fire Department show children playing and writing on the accumulated ice, in scenes that looked like something out of a movie. However, while some enjoyed the natural spectacle, farmers lamented serious losses.

The hardest hit sector was potato farming, considered the economic engine of many families in the region.

"We want you to see how we’ve lost every single acre of potatoes. A huge amount of potatoes has been lost, completely destroyed by this massive hailstorm that fell here in the community," said one affected farmer as he showed his land.

According to experts, hail originates in clouds with large vertical development when water droplets rise and freeze repeatedly until they transform into ice spheres.

This phenomenon is common in mountainous areas during periods of heavy rain, as occurs in Intibucá, Lempira, La Paz, and Francisco Morazán.

Although there is no official damage report yet, agricultural losses are expected to be significant, and the impact could spill over into the local market in the coming weeks, also affecting consumers.