Hail in Tunisia and Algeria Blankets Streets Like Snow

Severe thunderstorms swept the Mediterranean this week, driven by a surface low and an upper‑air cut‑off low that intensified over hot North‑African air masses.

Hail in Tunisia and Algeria: Snow‑Like Accumulations

In Algeria, towns such as Oum Ladjoul and Hammam Sokhna reported hail layers up to ↑ 3 cm deep, while in Tunisia, Makthar saw hailstones reaching the same diameter. The following day, Ouled Bousmir recorded a ↓ 2 cm sheet of hail, turning streets into a white carpet.

“The intensity of the hail was unprecedented for the region,” said a local meteorologist.

Authorities warned of hazardous road conditions and urged drivers to exercise caution. Reuters and AP News reported similar events across central Italy, where torrential rains accompanied the storms.