Rio Grande do Sul faces severe storm warnings and cold weather

The North and Northwest regions of Rio Grande do Sul have been placed under a red alert for severe storms. The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) warns of intense rainfall, potentially exceeding 60 mm per hour or 100 mm per day, alongside hail and wind gusts surpassing 100 km/h. This instability is driven by low-pressure areas, a cold front, and the formation of an extratropical cyclone near the southern coast.

Specific municipalities, including Erechim and Frederico Westphalen, are in the high-danger zone. An orange alert has also been extended to the Porto Alegre Metropolitan Area and other parts of the state, with risks of wind gusts between 60 and 100 km/h. Such conditions may lead to power outages, fallen trees, crop damage, and flooding.

In addition to the storm threats, a cold air mass is affecting the state, bringing unseasonably low temperatures for late October. High-pressure systems in Argentina are contributing to cloudy skies and localized instability, particularly in the southern and eastern halves of the state. Temperatures in several cities have already dropped significantly, with some areas recording near 10°C.