Heavy rain and giant hail hit Rio Grande do Sul, leaving hundreds of homes damaged, Brazil

Severe weather, including heavy rainfall, strong wind, and severe hailstorms, wreaked havoc in southern Brazil from April 16 to 17, 2023, causing floods and damage to hundreds of homes.

Rio Grande do Sul was hit particularly hard by heavy rainfall, strong wind, hailstorms, and thunderstorms, leading to floods and severe weather-related incidents.

Data from the meteorological station of the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) reveal that wind gusts of up to 108 km/h (67 mph) were recorded in the city of Porto Alegre.

Hail up to 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter was recorded in Guaíba Town where nearly 100 homes were damaged. Another 200 homes were damaged in Barra do Ribeiro where city officials declared a state of emergency. At least 100 more houses were damaged in Serrinha Town.

Around 50 houses were damaged, several roads were flooded, and power outages occurred in the capital city of Porto Alegre, located in eastern Rio Grande do Sul.

Other cities affected by bad weather were Bento Gonçalves, Barão do Triunfo, and São Jerônimo in Rio Grande do Sul, and Campo Mourão in Paraná.

Fortunately, no further rainfall is forecasted for Rio Grande do Sul State in the next 24 hours.

References:

¹ Brazil – Severe weather — DG ECHO – April 18, 2023

² Pedras de granizo gigantes causam estragos no Rio Grande do Sul – Canal Rural – April 17, 2023

Featured image credit: Anderson Santos (stillshot)