Real-time coverage of floods event — Green Flood in Argentina from: 28 Mar 2026 01 to: 16 Apr 2026 01. — Pandita Data.
🌊 OPEN LIVE 3D WEATHER ALERTSA significant flood event swept across the Buenos Aires province and surrounding regions of Argentina from March 28 to April 16, 2026, forcing thousands to evacuate low-lying areas along the Salado and Paraná river systems. Centred near coordinates -37.459°, -61.933° (southwest of Buenos Aires), the "Green Flood" inundated agricultural land, disrupted transportation networks, and threatened water supplies across one of South America's most densely populated regions. The flooding was driven by sustained heavy rainfall over the Pampas and upstream catchment areas, combined with poor drainage conditions in the flat terrain characteristic of Buenos Aires province.
The Green Flood resulted from a convergence of hydrological and meteorological factors specific to Argentina's Atlantic seaboard. Between late March and mid-April, a stalled low-pressure system delivered persistent rainfall across the upper Paraná River basin and the Pampas, generating runoff that flowed downstream into saturated river channels. The region's extremely flat topography—elevations rarely exceed 100 metres—means water spreads laterally across vast areas rather than concentrating in narrow channels, creating slow-moving but extensive inundation.
The Salado River, which drains the western Pampas, lacks significant gradient and relies on evaporation and soil infiltration to manage excess water. When rainfall exceeds these natural sinks, widespread flooding occurs. The soil in Buenos Aires province consists largely of clay and silt deposited during previous glacial periods, which limits water percolation and prolongs surface saturation. This combination—low relief, high clay content, and heavy persistent rainfall—creates conditions for protracted flooding that can persist for weeks after rainfall ceases.
Pandita Data's hydrological simulation integrates real-time precipitation data from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, stream gauge measurements from Argentina's Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN), and satellite-derived soil moisture estimates from NASA's SMAP mission. The 3D flood extent model overlays topographic data with rainfall accumulation to project inundation areas 7–14 days in advance, helping emergency managers identify evacuation zones and prioritize resource allocation. During the Green Flood event, satellite imagery from Copernicus Sentinel-1 (synthetic aperture radar) penetrated cloud cover to map open water extent daily, confirming inundation of an estimated 8,000+ square kilometres of agricultural and residential land.
Recurrence: Major floods (>5,000 km² inundation) occur every 15–25 years across the Pampas. Climate models suggest frequency may increase due to shifting rainfall patterns.
Peak Risk Season: March–May (autumn in Southern Hemisphere), when upper-level troughs drive sustained low-pressure systems.
Vulnerable Populations: Rural farming communities, informal settlements in Buenos Aires suburbs, and livestock operations in flood-prone areas.