São Paulo Windstorm Leaves 1.3 Million Without Power as Flight Disruptions Ripple Nationwide

Overview

• Guarulhos and Congonhas accumulated about 344 flight cancellations from Wednesday into Thursday morning, with knock-on delays and cancellations reaching airports in Brasília, Rio, Salvador, Porto Alegre and other capitals.
• To speed recovery of the air network, the Ministry of Ports and Airports and ANAC extended Congonhas operations to midnight on Thursday and reiterated passenger assistance rules under Resolution 400.
• Wind gusts reached roughly 98–100 km/h, according to INMET and local monitors, with about 12 hours of continuous high winds that toppled trees, damaged power lines and disrupted traffic signals and water pumping.
• Enel reported roughly 1.3–1.5 million customers still without electricity across 24 municipalities, mobilized around 1,500–1,600 repair teams and declined to provide a firm full-restoration deadline.
• FecomercioSP estimated at least R$ 1.54 billion in lost revenue for commerce and services in the city, while authorities pressed utilities for explanations and Aneel reported a peak of 146,000 EDP customers affected.