Inmet publishes red alert for rain in the southern region of Brazil; see forecast

Rains hit the South region (Photo: Archive, NSC)

The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) issued a red alert of “great danger” for rain and storms in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Heavy rains are expected to continue at least until Saturday (4). Storms pose a great risk of flooding, river overflows and slope slides.

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Volumes above 60 millimeters per hour or above 100 millimeters per day are expected, according to the institute. The most affected areas in SC should be the Serrana, Oeste Catarinense, Vale do Itajaí, Noroeste Rio-grandense, Greater Florianópolis, Northeast Rio-grandense, South Catarinense, Metropolitan Porto Alegre, Southwest Paraná regions.

There is also a danger warning for winds of up to 100 km per hour and hail. The windstorm can cause electricity cuts, damage to crops and falling trees. According to Inmet, it is important that inhabitants of these regions turn off electrical appliances and the general energy supply at home, observe changes in the slopes and remain in a sheltered place.

See the regions that will be most affected by rain

Rain warning (Photo: Disclosure, Inmet)

Influence of El Niño on rainfall

Inmet explains that the period between the end of April and the beginning of May 2024 is still influenced by El Niño. The phenomenon responsible for warming the waters of the Pacific helped to block the cold fronts and concentrate areas of instability in Rio Grande do Sul, causing the most intense rain in part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul and south of Santa Catarina in recent days.

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