Santiago, Chile, hit by gustnado phenomenon

A meteorological phenomenon known as a gustnado caused damage in Santiago, Chile, on October 13. The event, which initially led to suspicions of an EF0 category tornado, was reclassified by the Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC) following technical analysis.

The gustnado caused a bus station roof to be torn off and sent various objects flying through the air. Unlike a tornado, where wind circulation extends from the cloud base to the ground, a gustnado is a whirlwind that forms near the surface when cold downdrafts from a storm hit the ground and spread horizontally, creating rotating wind gusts.

Investigations in Chile identified abrupt changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure, along with wind characteristics consistent with a gust front rather than a tornado. While visually similar to tornadoes, gustnados are typically less intense and shorter in duration due to their more superficial and less organized circulation.