From 2:50 pm this Monday, October 5, the District Institute of Risk Management and Climate Change (Idiger) began to register heavy rains in different areas of the capital.
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The initial report from Idiger indicated that the rainfall occurred in sectors of Engativá, Suba and Fontibón, towns located mainly in the west and northwest of Bogotá.
The entity also reported that, less than two hours before, at different points of The city had recorded temperatures close to 24 °Cso he warned about changes in weather conditions during the day.
Hailstorm in Bogotá Photo:NETWORKS
As the minutes progressed, conditions intensified particularly in Engativá. In a later update, the entity reported that The heavy rains “strengthened” and that hail also occurred in that location.
Given this situation, The organization asked those who move through the sector to “travel carefully” and consult the information from the Bogotá Alert System (SAB).a platform that allows you to monitor the weather conditions of the capital in real time.
Videos and images of the heavy rains in western Bogotá Photo:Luz Ángela Romero / Supplied
The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam) also warned about the situation and indicated that the downpour is accompanied by “electrical activity.”
“These rains are expected to continue for the next hour,” the entity noted. The Ministry of Mobility of the capital indicated that the rains reported since 3 pm were recorded in the towns of Fontibón, Teusaquillo, Engativá and Barrios Unidos.
Around 3:25 pm, the entity reported that traffic congestion due to water was concentrated on 13th Street, Ciudad de Cali Avenue and 26th Street Avenue.
🚨 Heavy rains occur in the west of the city of Bogotá, accompanied by electrical activity 🌧️⛈️⚡ 🔜 These rains are expected to continue for the next hour. https://t.co/ibPlTwt9ba
— Ideam Colombia (@IDEAMColombia) October 5, 2026
At around 3:42 pm, the Civil Aeronautics reported that, due to the advance of the storm, “ground stop” was decreed at the El Dorado Airport for all flights that operated in the air terminal.
This term, according to the National Commercial Aviation Association (NBAA, for its acronym in English), requires that “aircraft that meet specific criteria remain grounded at their airport of origin.”
According to the specialized website, the measure is implemented “when air traffic control cannot safely accommodate additional aircraft in the system.”
Videos and images of the heavy rains in western Bogotá Photo:Luz Ángela Romero / Supplied
According to Aerocivil, on this occasion, the order was given due to “reduced visibility and communications failure” and its scope was for planes “origin/destination” to Bogotá.
At the time, travelers were asked to check the status of flights with each airline. Forty-five minutes later, the restoration of operations at the terminal was announced. “We are working on the reorganization of air traffic to progressively recover delays,” they pointed out in a message on their official X account.
Hailstorm in Bogotá Photo:NETWORKS
Falling hail was recorded in videos shared by users on social networks, in which sectors of the roads covered by small ice particles are observed. The phenomenon was concentrated in the middle of the rainy episode reported by the district authorities.
In the midst of citizens’ publications, it was warned that the hailstorm It was recorded on main roads such as El Dorado Avenue and Boyacá Avenue. Among the areas commented on by users are also mentioned the neighborhoods of Modelia, Normandía, Hayuelos and La Felicidad.
@IDIGER Tremendous hailstorm by Modelia https://t.co/fy3Aqmb1Ql
— Heidy 💖 COL 🇨🇴 (@Wildest1Dreams_) October 5, 2026
Impressive hail at this time in several sectors of #Bogotá This is what Boyacá Avenue looks like at the intersection with El Dorado Avenue. @CityNoticiasTv @gallegomauricio @UltimaHoraBLU @ricarospina https://t.co/vgPoeIo14c
— Jhon Fredy Franco Giraldo (@JhonCaldas) October 5, 2026
The Idiger records also show that temperature conditions had varied between different sectors of Bogotá during the afternoon.
In the report issued before the start of the rainfall, The entity indicated that the maximum temperatures were between 24.6 °C and 23 °C, with the highest values in Usaquen and other sectors of the north and center of the capital.
At the same time, minimum temperatures reached 11.5 °C in San Cristóbal and in higher altitude areas.
Hailstorm in Bogotá Photo:NETWORKS
What a hp hailstorm! https://t.co/VybDB8G1jZ
— The Passenger (@Mr_Radiobemba) October 5, 2026
Christmas came early in Bogotá ⛄❄️ We had to put together hail dolls (?) https://t.co/V336XDqDYd
— Carolina F. (@carola0401) October 5, 2026
He Idiger director, Guillermo Escobar, provided an assessment of the situations recorded after the afternoon rains. In this regard, the head of the entity described the event as “heavy precipitation, including hailstorms in the central western areain towns of Kennedy, Engativá and in some parts of Suba”.
Terrible hail in Modelia https://t.co/ZMIlzKqpSW
— Pilates Modelia (@PilatesModelia) October 5, 2026
The official pointed out that it is “normal for this to happen even though we are influenced by an El Niño phenomenon.”. In the middle of his statements he explained that the high temperatures in the morning and the abrupt change were caused because “humidity entered the capital district and that is why these extreme conditions occur.”
For his part, he warned that they could occur “throughout the month of October and November and we have to be prepared.”
I have never seen a hailstorm like this in Bogotá! 🌨️😶🌫️ this is what the Modelia neighborhood looks like from my balcony… cool but not so much for those outside :/ https://t.co/4RSxGVbg2e
— LordOfReggaeton (@LordOfReggaeton) October 5, 2026
The Idiger director also reported that “In fact, nearly five situations of tree collapse, several points due to flooding on roads, flooding due to the reflux of sewage and rainwater” occurred in the aforementioned locations.
Likewise, he spoke of “some structural collapses of light covers for terrace areas, parking areas, in polycarbonate and minor structural elements”, without specifying exact locations of the damage.
#Bogota | After recording the latest high temperatures in the Colombian capital, a strong hailstorm falls today. Bogotá and its things. https://t.co/XY0XPCJTmh
— Joel Kombi (@Joelpolitica) October 5, 2026
Finally, Escobar recommended that citizens “clean everything that corresponds to the rainwater drainage system on the roofs, check our buildings and always report different emergencies to line 123.”
Images of today’s AMAZING hailstorm in Bogotá. Floods are reported in several western sectors of the city. We hope that all emergencies are attended to as quickly as possible. https://t.co/8p1f3bWehY
— Papo Amin | President of the Bogotá Council (@papoaminCD) October 5, 2026
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