Brazil Issues New Year’s Eve Storm Warnings as Heatwave Persists

Overview

• The national meteorological service kept orange alerts for severe thunderstorms on December 31 for the Federal District and seven states, with heavy‑rain advisories spanning at least 18 states across all regions.
• Inmet warns of rainfall that may reach 100 mm in a day, gusts up to 100 km/h and possible hail, raising risks of power outages, treefall, crop damage and flooding.
• Red alerts for excessive heat remain in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with temperatures around 5 °C above average and highs near 35 °C in Rio and about 30 °C in São Paulo.
• São Paulo’s emergency center expects afternoon and evening storms and flags heightened flooding and landslide danger because soils are already saturated.
• Regional outlooks diverge: southern Rio de Janeiro municipalities escalate to orange alert through December 31, Espírito Santo’s coast is forecast to stay dry at the turn of the year, and Brasília is expected to be warm and cloudy with no rain around midnight.