Weekend Storms Damage Homes in South as New Cold Air Raises Frost Risk

Overview

• Severe convective storms on Saturday lashed Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná with heavy rain, hail and damaging winds that left structural damage across the region.
• Local authorities reported 101 houses affected and about 400 people displaced in Eldorado do Sul after overnight hail and wind tore roofs, felled trees and cut power.
• INMET and state Defesa Civil offices issued orange and red alerts for parts of the South that warned of 30–60 mm/h rain rates, 50–100 mm/day totals, winds up to 60–100 km/h and hail risk.
• The cold air mass consolidated by Monday has produced very low overnight minima and geada risk in higher-altitude areas of the South while forecasts show a return to warmer conditions by midweek.
• Meteorologists say this is a weaker, shorter July cold incursion than earlier outbreaks but warn residual flooding, wind damage and agricultural impacts may persist and emergency teams remain on alert.