Extratropical Cyclone Hits Southern Brazil as Peak Conditions Arrive

Overview

• Inmet keeps a red, maximum‑severity warning in effect for Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná through late Tuesday, citing rain above 100 mm/day, gusts over 100 km/h and hail.
• Early impacts include roof damage and outages in Serra Gaúcha, school cancellations across Santa Catarina, and structural damage and widespread power cuts reported in greater São Paulo.
• São Paulo state activated a crisis cabinet and warned of strong gales on Wednesday that could exceed 90 km/h in the east, raising risks of falling trees, infrastructure damage and service disruptions.
• Forecasters expect the cyclone’s center to reach the ocean near the Rio Grande do Sul coast by Wednesday and then head out to sea, yet coastal winds, rough surf and hazardous marine conditions will persist.
• Secondary effects are forecast for São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso do Sul, including heavy downpours, frequent lightning and strong winds, with the South remaining the hardest hit.