Another storm strikes Juiz de Fora as death toll climbs to 49 in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Another storm system is bringing heavy rainfall across Juiz de Fora in Minas Gerais, as the death toll from the previous storm climbed to 49 on February 26, 2026. The government has allocated nearly USD 10 million for relief efforts across Minas Gerais, of which more than 7 million is to be used just for Juiz de Fora. The heavy ongoing rainfall has also made it difficult to plant corn crops in the region, as saturated soils have made it difficult to prepare and work in the fields.
Flood damage in Juiz de Fora on February 25, 2026. Credit: Governo de Juiz de Fora
The death toll from the severe storm that struck Juiz de Fora between February 23 and 24 has risen to 43, bringing the total for the region to 49, including six fatalities confirmed earlier this week in Ubá. Meanwhile, 18 people remain missing, of whom 16 are from Juiz de Fora
As the storm departed, another system struck the region during the night of February 25. Rain began across the area at around 20:30 local time (LT), worsening the ongoing floods.
Approximately 113 mm (4.45 inches) of rainfall was recorded in Juiz de Fora on February 25, bringing the monthly total to 733 mm (28.86 inches) — about 4.3 times the monthly average for February, according to the Juiz de Fora City Hall.
The Cidade Universitária district received around 102.9 mm (4.05 inches) of rainfall in just three hours during the night of February 25. Meanwhile, Graminha recorded 96.3 mm (3.79 inches), and Centro received 85.5 mm (3.37 inches) during the same period. The Paraibuna River reached an extreme flood level, rising to over 4 m (13 feet).
An immediate evacuation order was issued from the corner of Benício de Souza up to the dead-end section of Waldomiro Eloy do Amaral due to the risk of landslides in the area. Rua Joaquim Vicente Guedes was fully closed to traffic, and a fallen tree caused the closure of the uphill lane of Avenida Prefeito Melo Reis.
More than 3 500 people in Juiz de Fora have been left homeless since the rainfall began on February 23, affecting much of Minas Gerais. The government announced compensation of USD 800 for each of the displaced victims.
The government has allocated about BRL 48.2 million (USD 9.3 million) for the relief efforts across Minas Gerais, of which USD 38.8 million (USD 7.3 million) has been allocated to Juiz de Fora alone. Meanwhile, Uba has been allocated BRL 8.3 million (USD 1.6 million).
Ten trucks from the Brazilian Army are set to arrive in the city on February 26, along with 100 soldiers, to assist with relief efforts.
While some local media reports mistakenly attributed the heavy rains to storm cells, the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) confirmed that the rainfall was driven by interactions between a persistent low-pressure system along the coast and atmospheric circulation at the 200 hPa level. These conditions are expected to persist until at least February 28.
The excessive rainfall has also hampered the planting of the second crop of corn, as the saturated soil has made it difficult to operate machinery and prepare the field.
“Forecast for the coming days indicates even more significant volumes and broader spatial distribution. Consecutive rainy days are likely to intensify soil waterlogging, potentially compromising the establishment of newly sown corn fields and directly affecting one of the crop’s main yield components: plant population per unit area,” said INMET.
High soil moisture during the maturation and harvest phase of the first crop has already compromised grain quality. Ongoing rainfall could further intensify uneven maturation, making it even more difficult to determine the time of harvest. This scenario increases the risk of losses and grain deterioration, potentially affecting the product’s commercial standards.
With rainfall expected to continue, producers should closely monitor the evolution of weather conditions, which will be decisive for the progress of field operations and crop performance in the coming weeks.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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