Severe Storms Batter South and Southeast Brazil as São Paulo Issues Flood Alert

Overview

• São Paulo’s emergency center placed the capital in a state of attention for heavy rain and urban flooding on Sunday, with intermitent showers, thunder and cooler temperatures forecast through the day.
• Paraná recorded the most severe impacts so far, with very large hail, power outages and flooding; Santa Helena tallied 138.6 mm of rain, Campo Mourão 81.4 mm and a calamity decree is being prepared.
• Santa Catarina is under an INMET orange alert in 83 western cities for storms with up to 60 mm per hour or 100 mm per day and winds reaching 100 km/h, alongside a statewide yellow alert.
• In Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte authorities issued a geologic risk alert through Monday after flash flooding, while an INMET orange rainfall warning covered 31 municipalities in the north, center and northwest.
• Inland São Paulo also saw damage, with a microburst in Araraquara unroofing homes, toppling trees and displacing a family, as the state Defesa Civil urges residents to avoid flooded routes and call 199 or 193 in emergencies.