Brazil's Lula government prepares for El Niño and severe cold spell

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the federal government is prepared for the anticipated El Niño, which forecasters assess has an 80% chance of developing into a moderate‑to‑strong event. The administration is coordinating preventive actions such as strengthening civil defence, planning measures to curb forest fires, and supporting regions that may face drought or intense rainfall, with particular attention to the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.

A polar air mass arrived over Brazil, sharply lowering temperatures across the South. Frost alerts (orange level) were issued for Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, while strong winds are expected along the coast. The cold front also affected parts of the Southeast, Central‑West and the North, producing isolated rain and temperatures ranging from near 0 °C in the southern highlands to the mid‑teens elsewhere.