Polar Cold Front Brings Storms, Strong Winds and Sharp Cooling to Brazil’s Centro‑Sul

Overview

• The polar front moved across the Centro‑Sul over the weekend, producing an abrupt drop in temperature, widespread rain and thunderstorms in the South, Center‑West and parts of the Southeast.
• The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) has active yellow alerts for storms and falling temperatures across multiple states, and meteorologists warned of gusts up to about 80 km/h in affected areas.
• State emergency services in Rio de Janeiro reported 255 storm‑related calls over the weekend and the Defesa Civil confirmed one fatality from a building collapse in Guaratiba.
• Forecasts call for continued unsettled weather into early this week with ongoing rain, strong gusts and localized hail risk especially in eastern/northeastern Mato Grosso do Sul and southern Goiás, followed by gradual improvement by midweek.
• Authorities urge residents to follow Defesa Civil and Corpo de Bombeiros guidance because hazards include landslides, localized flooding, power outages and crop damage and the system disrupted travel and public events such as the Enem.