Google error triggers false cyclone alerts in Niterói

A technical error by Google caused widespread alarm in Niterói, Brazil, after the platform sent false emergency notifications warning of an imminent cyclone. The error occurred when the system incorrectly associated a maritime swell warning with a cyclone forecast.

Local authorities, including the Niterói City Hall and Civil Defense, clarified that there is no cyclone predicted for the region. Instead, the Brazilian Navy issued an official warning for sea swells, which is expected to last from Friday night through Sunday. Mayor Rodrigo Neves addressed the error on social media, emphasizing that the actual weather threat involves waves reaching up to 2.5 meters, requiring caution for swimmers and sailors, but no cyclonic activity will hit the mainland.

The Federal Government also confirmed the technological mistake, noting that while a cyclone may form in the open ocean, it does not have a route toward the continent.