Rio Grande do Sul braces for severe storms and 90 km/h winds amid cold front

A cold front moving south from the Southeast is bringing a brief spell of rain to Goiás before dry conditions return on Wednesday, raising the risk of forest fires in the state. Temperatures in Goiás are expected to reach 30 °C with humidity between 30 % and 85 %.

From Thursday, July 16, Rio Grande do Sul will experience a prolonged period of severe weather. Meteorological agencies forecast daily thunderstorms, heavy rain (up to 200 mm in some areas), hail, and strong gusts that may exceed 90 km/h. The combination of high humidity, a lingering cold front and an active El Niño is expected to fuel the storms, raising the danger of urban flooding, river overflows, power outages and damage to infrastructure. Temperatures could also climb above 30 °C in parts of the state. Authorities have issued alerts for wind, hail and lightning, and are monitoring the situation closely.