On February 16, 2024, the Brazilian Navy identified a subtropical depression ESE of Rio de Janeiro, which intensified into Tropical Storm “Akará” by February 19. Akará is the first named tropical storm to develop in the South Atlantic Ocean since Iba in 2019 and the basin’s first named storm in February since Bapo in 2015. The system is expected to continue intensifying, but remain well away from Brazil.
At least 11 people have died in Rio de Janeiro after a month’s worth of rain hit parts of the city, turning roads into raging rivers, the fire department confirmed on Sunday, January 15, 2024. The northern parts of the city were particularly affected, with incidents of landslides, drownings, and electrocutions reported.
The Guaíba River in Porto Alegre, Brazil, reached a historic water level of 3.01 meters on the morning of November 20, 2023. This marked the third-highest flood level since 1941, following heavy rainfall across its contributing basins. The rising waters led to the river overflowing its banks at the Central Wharf, a rare occurrence in the city’s recent history.
At least four people died Monday, September 4, 2023, after an extratropical cyclone dumped extremely heavy rains that triggered severe floods and landslides in the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Parts of the northern half of the state received 2 and even 3 months’ worth of September rains in just 72 hours.
Over 20 000 people were affected by torrential rains in the Brazilian states of Alagoas and Pernambuco starting from July 7, 2023, leading to loss of life, massive displacement, and a building collapse in Recife.
In a rare occurrence, almost 3 000 cattle have succumbed to hypothermia in Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul state in recent days, local veterinary services announced on their website on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. The event has raised concerns due to its uncommon nature, despite the minimal impact on the country’s massive cattle herd.
An extratropical cyclone, forming off the coast of southern Brazil on Thursday, June 15, 2023, produced excessive rainfall and strong wind gusts, wreaking havoc in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. The event is still in progress. There are reports of dead and missing and over 1 million people without power.
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.
Heavy rain affecting northeastern Brazil last week has caused flooding and landslides in at least 5 municipalities of Ceará State, resulting in the deaths of three people and the displacement of dozens. The landslides destroyed homes and forced residents to evacuate, while local governments have declared a state of emergency. The neighboring state of Maranhão has also declared a state of emergency for 20 municipalities.
A sudden and unexpected surge of cold Arctic air has engulfed several regions of South America, shattering numerous cold records in its wake. Although it is currently summer in the southern hemisphere, including parts of South America such as Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and parts of Brazil, some areas have experienced a drastic and rapid shift in weather, going from a heat wave to frost in less than a week.
