Paraná experiences severe storms and infrastructure damage

Heavy rainfall across Paraná during the weekend of October 24-25 has caused significant damage, including the destruction of a bridge in Cruz Machado and flooding at the Buraco do Padre Natural Park in Ponta Grossa. The surge in the Quebra-Pedra River reached approximately ten times its average flow, submerging access points to the natural monument.

In addition to infrastructure damage, the storms affected thousands of residents, with reports of landslides, flooding, and power outages impacting 4,000 properties. High rainfall totals were recorded in several municipalities, notably Pato Branco with 204.2 mm and Francisco Beltrão with 165.6 mm.

While a dry air mass has brought temporary sunny conditions and cooler temperatures to much of the state, meteorologists from Simepar warn that a low-pressure system over Paraguay is expected to bring instability, thunderstorms, and renewed rain to all regions of Paraná starting Thursday.