Severe Weather Alerts and School Closures Across Southern and Southeastern Brazil

A potential bomb cyclone and an advancing cold front have triggered severe weather alerts and widespread precautionary measures across southern and southeastern Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro, the municipal and state governments suspended public school classes on Friday, July 7, after forecasts predicted wind gusts exceeding 90 km/h. The State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) also suspended in person activities. Some regions of Rio de Janeiro, including the Costa Verde and the Serrana region, may see gusts reaching 110 km/h. The city of Rio de Janeiro was placed in Stage 2 alert, indicating a risk of high impact occurrences.

In São Paulo, the municipalities of Ubatuba, Caraguatatuba, and São Sebastião on the north coast suspended municipal classes. The state Civil Defense issued a red alert for the center south and coastal areas, with winds potentially reaching 100 km/h. Wind gusts of 97.2 km/h were recorded in Itanhaém on Thursday night, and a severe alert for rain and lightning was issued for the Itapetininga region.

Rio Grande do Sul has already experienced significant impacts. A tornado hit Pedro Osório on Thursday, causing roof damage in the Matarazzo locality. Other reports from the state include hail damage to homes in Caseiros and Ibiraiaras, as well as flooding in Caçapava do Sul and Chuí. The Civil Defense issued a red alert for several southern municipalities and used Cell Broadcast technology to send emergency alerts to mobile phones in the Porto Alegre metropolitan region, warning of winds above 90 km/h.

Meteorologists explain that a bomb cyclone occurs when a low pressure system intensifies rapidly, which can lead to severe weather. While the center of the system is expected to remain over the ocean, the interaction between the cyclone and a cold front is driving the intense winds and rain across the region.