Extratropical Cyclone and Cold Front to Bring Strong Winds and Temperature Drops to Southern and Southeastern Brazil

An extratropical cyclone is forming between Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay starting Thursday, August 20, bringing intense rain and wind gusts exceeding 80 km/h to southern Brazil. The system is moving in tandem with a cold front that will advance through the South and Southeast, causing a sharp drop in temperatures across several states. In Rio Grande do Sul, meteorologists warn of potential hail and rainfall up to 80 millimeters in some areas, which may exacerbate flooding in rivers already at high levels. In Santa Catarina and Paraná, strong winds and rain are also expected. As the system moves, the cold front will reach the state of São Paulo between Thursday night and Friday. The São Paulo Civil Defense has issued alerts for wind gusts exceeding 75 km/h in the Greater São Paulo area and the Baixada Santista coast. These conditions may lead to fallen trees, roof damage, and power outages. Due to the dry soil from August, there is a specific risk of dust storms that could reduce visibility on highways. While the cold front will bring a significant temperature drop, with some minimums reaching 8 degrees Celsius in the Serra da Mantiqueira, meteorologists note that rainfall in São Paulo may be isolated rather than generalized. Temperatures in the city of São Paulo are expected to drop from highs of 32 degrees Celsius on Thursday to around 22 degrees Celsius by the weekend.