Cities record more than 100 mm of rain and three dams overflow during the Easter weekend in RN | large northern river

Bleeding from the Pataxó Dam, in Ipanguaçu, RN

Rio Grande do Norte had an Easter weekend with rain throughout Rio Grande do Norte, exceeding accumulations of 100 millimeters of water in different cities and regions. The heavy rains also helped recharge the state’s reservoirs. At least three overflowed over the weekend.

The highest volumes of rain recorded by the Monitoring System of the Agricultural Research Company of Rio Grande do Norte (Emparn), from the morning of Friday (29) until the same time this Monday (1) occurred in Luís Gomes, in West region (178.4 mm); Parnamirim, in the East of Rio Grande do Norte (150 mm); and in São Pedro, in Agreste (125mm).

In Luís Gomes and Severiano Melo, both in Oeste Potiguar, it rained, only between Sunday (31) and this Monday (1) 99.1mm and 80.8mm, respectively.

“The recent rains were caused by the action of the Convergence Zone and the warming that is still happening over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, which are releasing a lot of moisture and this moisture is entering the Convergence Zone and with this there is the formation of clouds with rain ”, stated the head of Emparn’s Meteorology unit, Gilmar Bristot.

For the first week of April, the forecast is for partly cloudy skies with rain in all regions of the state. “The model analyzes point to continued rain, mainly concentrated between the 2nd and 6th of April in all regions here in the state”, explained the head of the Meteorology unit.

The accumulation of rain that caused the closure of BR 304, near the municipality of Lajes, is the result of rains that occurred in neighboring municipalities. “The disturbance recorded on the bridge, in the municipality of Lajes, is the result of the rain that fell throughout the month and in neighboring municipalities, such as Caiçara do Rio dos Ventos, where it rained from Saturday (30/03) until Sunday (31/03). )- 105.8mm”, said Bristot.

Throughout March 2024, the Central region of the state received a volume of water 71% greater than expected for the period. It was 252.4mm, while the expected average was 147.6mm.

According to climatology, the average rainfall in the municipality of Lajes (Central Potiguar) is 135.9mm. However, in March 2024, the city received 306.7mm – 125% above average.

According to a survey by the Water Management Institute (Igarn), which monitors the volume of the state’s largest water reservoirs, the Mendubim dam, located in Assú, with a capacity of 77,600,250 m³, reached 100% of its capacity this Sunday (31 ).

The Riacho da Cruz public dam, with a capacity of 9,604,200 m 3, also reached 100% of its capacity on that date. The Malhada Vermelha dam, located in Severiano Melo, started bleeding last Saturday (30).

Other reservoirs monitored by Igarn that continue to have 100% of their capacity are: Campo Grande, in São Paulo do Potengi; Pataxó, in Ipanguaçu; Dourado, in Currais Novos; Passagem, in Rodolfo Fernandes; Beldroega, in Paraú; the Encanto public reservoir; and Santa Cruz do Trairi, in Santa Cruz.

Even the reservoirs that are not completely full are in a better situation than that recorded in the same period last year.

The Umari dam, located in Upanema, accumulates 250,578,808 m³, 85.57% of its total capacity, which is 292,813,650 m³. On April 1, 2023, the reservoir held 223,804,217 m³, equivalent to 76.43% of its total capacity.

The Marechal Dutra dam, also known as Gargalheiras, accumulates 33,697,374 m³, corresponding to 75.85% of its capacity, which is 44,421,480 m³. At the beginning of April last year, the spring was at just 4.07% of its total capacity.

The largest reservoir in RN, the Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves dam accumulates 1,538,757,336 m³, 64.84% of its total capacity, which is 2,373,066,000 m³. In the same period last year, the spring was at 56.56% of its capacity.

The Santa Cruz do Apodi dam accumulates 405,046,450 m³, equivalent to 67.54% of its total capacity, which is 599,712,000 m³. In the same period of 2023, it had 53.67% of its total capacity.

In Poço Branco, the dam accumulates 56,457,825 m³, corresponding to 41.51% of its total capacity, which is 136,000,000 m³. At the beginning of April last year, the reservoir held 34,781,358 m³, equivalent to 25.57% of its total capacity.

In Cruzeta, the public dam accumulates 15,787,656 m³, 67.05% of its total capacity, which is 23,545,745 m³. In the same period last year, the source had 7,096,494 m³, corresponding to 30.15% of its total capacity.

• Monday (1) – Partially cloudy skies with rain on the Coast, Agreste, Seridó and the Upper West. Other regions, partly cloudy skies.
• Tuesday (2) – Partially cloudy skies with rain in all regions.
• Wednesday (3) – Partially cloudy skies with rain in all regions.
• Thursday (4) – Partially cloudy skies with rain in all regions.
• Friday (5) – Partially cloudy skies with rain in all regions.
• Saturday (6) – Partially cloudy skies with rain in all regions.
• Sunday (7) – Partially cloudy skies with rain in all regions.