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Avenida de Quito bajo una tormenta con granizo, con vehículos detenidos entre agua acumulada sobre la calzada
Imagen alusiva a la tormenta con granizo que inundó calles de Quito y afectó la movilidad y el servicio del Metro. · Imagen generada para EPM

Hailstorm floods Quito streets and cuts Metro service

An electrical storm with hail hit Quito on Thursday, October 22, 2026, flooding north-central avenues, dragging parked vehicles, entering homes and businesses…

--- The context --- Quito endured an afternoon shaped by water and hail. On Thursday, October 22, 2026, an intense electrical storm disrupted mobility across the north-central area and tested emergency services and public transport. --- The facts --- Rainfall began at approximately 14:40 in the north-central area. Avenues 12 de Octubre, Colón and Versalles accumulated water and hail, and although the hail stopped near 15:10, water kept flowing toward La Comuna, La Gasca and La Mariscal. On Luis Mosquera Narváez street, the current dragged parked vehicles toward 10 de Agosto avenue. Water entered homes and businesses, whose owners began cleanup, and the depressed crossing at 10 de Agosto and Francisco de Orellana was closed, with heavy traffic at América and Ulloa. --- The positions --- The Metro reported water at Universidad Central and La Pradera and operated only between Quitumbe and La Alameda, and between La Carolina and El Labrador. Transit officials, firefighters and the emergency system urged caution, lower speed, distance and lights on. --- What remains unknown --- The full balance of damage to homes and businesses is still unknown, as is the time needed to normalize Metro service and the closed roads fully. --- Unanswered questions --- How many homes and businesses were affected? When will the Metro recover its full route? What measures will reduce the impact of the next afternoon storms? --- EPM analysis --- The episode shows the vulnerability of central sectors to concentrated rain. According to the meteorological institute, morning heating, humidity and solar radiation favor electrical storms and hailstorms during the afternoons. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, the storm leaves a clear lesson on urban prevention and care for people: when water drags vehicles, enters homes and forces cuts to Metro service, the city needs fast responses, timely information, constant road maintenance and planning that protects residents first, together with the most exposed neighborhoods of the capital every single rainy season. Following the recommendations to drive with caution, reduce speed, keep distance, turn lights on and avoid flooded underpasses, while the full damage balance remains unknown, is also part of that collective prevention.
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