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Hail hit Ilicínea, in the South of Minas, on the afternoon of June 1st and left up to 30 centimeters of ice in some places, according to Civil Defense. The storm lasted about 45 minutes, covered streets, and mobilized municipal teams to assess damage and guide residents after the storm.
An intense hailstorm hit Ilicínea, in the South of Minas Gerais, on the afternoon of Monday, June 1st, 2026, and changed the city’s landscape in less than an hour. According to Civil Defense, the ice formed layers up to 30 centimeters thick in some places after a storm that started around 5:15 PM.
In a video published by the channel Natureza em Fúria, the rain lasted approximately 45 minutes and mobilized teams from Civil Defense and the Municipal Works Department, who went out to check neighborhoods, assess possible damage, and monitor the situation of residents. Images taken during and after the storm show streets covered by ice stones and sections taken over by water and accumulated hail.
Hail changes Ilicínea’s landscape in a few minutes
The storm surprised residents in the late afternoon when the intense fall of ice stones began to hit roofs, yards, vehicles, and public roads. In videos recorded in the city, residents express astonishment at the volume accumulated in the streets and the noise caused by the storm.
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The rapid transformation of the landscape was one of the points that most caught attention. Where there was once visible asphalt and sidewalks, white layers of hail began to appear, mixed with rainwater, forming paths that resembled ice corridors between houses and establishments.
The scene was impressive because it was not just isolated stones falling during a heavy rain, but an accumulation capable of covering parts of the city in about 45 minutes.
Civil Defense points to a layer of up to 30 centimeters of ice
According to information attributed to Civil Defense, the concentration of ice reached up to 30 centimeters in certain areas of Ilicínea. The recorded volume helps to gauge the intensity of the storm and explains why the images had wide repercussion on social media.
Praça Sete de Setembro, in the central region, was identified as one of the areas most affected by the storm. In this location and other parts of the municipality, the accumulated hail made circulation difficult and required monitoring by teams mobilized after the rain.
The data of 30 centimeters of ice refers to specific points, not the entire city. Even so, the record indicates a severe episode, capable of creating unusual concentrations of ice in urban areas in a short period of time.
Storm started around 5:15 PM and lasted about 45 minutes
The storm began around 5:15 PM on Monday and remained active for approximately 45 minutes, according to information released by Civil Defense. During this period, residents watched the continuous fall of ice stones and the rapid increase of accumulation in streets and yards.
Even after the most intense phase of the hail, the rain was still ongoing in the city during the initial surveys conducted by local teams. This combination of accumulated ice and circulating water contributed to streets being overtaken by floods and made it difficult to immediately assess the impacts.
In such situations, the scenario can change quickly: ice stones block passages, increase the volume on the streets, and can concentrate in lower areas. Therefore, inspection after the storm is essential to identify risks and guide residents in the most affected areas.
Residents record covered streets and reactions of astonishment
The records shared by residents show the moment when the storm transformed parts of Ilicínea. The images reveal white streets, covered yards, and large volumes of ice being pushed by the water, creating an unusual landscape for a city in the South of Minas.
Besides the appearance of the roads, the videos captured the reaction of those witnessing the phenomenon. Residents showed fear, surprise, and concern as the hail fell heavily on the city. In one of the recorded accounts, a resident stated they had never seen a similar situation in decades of life.
The reactions help to understand the emotional impact of the episode. For those inside their homes or trying to follow the situation on the street, the storm was not just an impressive image, but a moment of uncertainty given the intensity of the phenomenon.
Municipal teams were mobilized to check for damages
After the storm, teams from Civil Defense and the Department of Public Works toured affected areas to check the conditions of properties, streets, and residents. Until the first information was released, there was no confirmation of injuries or major structural damage in the city.
The assessment, however, became necessary due to the volume of hail accumulated and the presence of water in different areas. Storms with ice can cause damage to roofs, automobiles, agricultural areas, power grids, and exposed structures, even when there are no casualties.
The monitoring also allows for identifying families in vulnerable situations or points where circulation poses a risk. After the rain ends, the priority becomes measuring the real impacts and preventing the effects of the storm from causing new problems for the population.
How a hailstorm can accumulate so much ice
Hail forms inside storm clouds when intense air currents carry water droplets to very cold regions of the atmosphere. There, these droplets freeze and can gain new layers of ice before falling towards the ground.
When the storm manages to produce a large amount of stones in a short period of time, the ice can quickly accumulate on the streets, especially in areas where drainage cannot immediately disperse the water and frozen fragments. This effect left parts of Ilicínea covered after the storm.
The appearance of a winter landscape does not mean snow: it is accumulated hail after a severe and concentrated storm. The difference is important because the phenomenon occurs quickly and can be accompanied by heavy rain, winds, and the risk of material damage.
South of Minas had already recorded storms over the weekend
The episode in Ilicínea occurred a few days after storms with hail caused disruptions in other municipalities in the South of Minas. On Saturday, May 30, Boa Esperança and Campo do Meio were also affected by severe rain, with reports of accumulated ice, damage, and problems in urban and rural areas.
In Boa Esperança, flooding, fallen trees, and power outages were reported after the storm. In Campo do Meio, producers reported impacts on coffee crops hit by the ice. The sequence of occurrences increased concern about new instabilities in the region.
Although each episode has its own characteristics and impacts, the proximity between the records increases the attention of authorities and residents. In a few days, different cities in the South of Minas faced storms capable of altering streets, properties, and the routine of the population.
Ilicínea faces the challenge of assessing damages after ice scenario
With the rain over, attention turns to the extent of the damage left by the storm. The accumulation of up to 30 centimeters in some spots makes the episode a significant event for the municipality, both for its intensity and the need to map possible damages.
The assessment should consider residential areas, public roads, vehicles, rural properties, and structures affected by the fall of hail. Even when the videos highlight the impressive appearance of the city covered in white, the main concern of the teams is to identify where the storm caused material consequences or put residents at risk.
For the population, the episode leaves the memory of an afternoon when the landscape changed suddenly. In less than an hour, a city in the South of Minas went from a regular routine to streets taken over by ice, water, and apprehension.
City covered in hail leaves warning after extreme storm
The storm that hit Ilicínea showed how a localized phenomenon can cause a strong visual impact and immediate mobilization. In approximately 45 minutes, the hail covered roads, hit different neighborhoods, and left up to 30 centimeters of ice in certain places, according to Civil Defense.
While the teams continue to assess the consequences of the storm, the residents’ records reveal the dimension of an episode that will hardly be forgotten by those who witnessed it. The city in Minas became, at the beginning of June, one of the most striking images of recent instabilities in the region.
Have you ever witnessed a hailstorm capable of covering streets and completely transforming the landscape of a city? Share in the comments how the experience was or what impressed you the most about the images of Ilicínea.
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