RIO DE JANEIRO – Torrential rains and powerful winds have killed at least two people and displaced over 2,600 in southern Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state, authorities said Wednesday.
The severe weather hit just over a year after historic floods devastated the region, killing more than 100. Many of the same communities are now reliving that trauma as bridges collapse, roads wash out, and homes flood.
The storm was driven by the formation of a cold front and an extratropical cyclone over the weekend of October 11–12, affecting Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. These systems unleashed intense rain and wind gusts nearing 100 km/h (62 mph) across southern Brazil.
Some areas received more than 350 mm (14 inches) of rain since Saturday, with localized 12-hour rainfall totals exceeding 60 mm (2.4 inches)—about 30% of the region’s average monthly rainfall. Wind gusts hit 99 km/h in Santiago, with other areas across Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul reporting similar conditions.
The Brazilian Army has deployed troops to seven cities to assist with emergency efforts. Local governments have urged residents to remain indoors, unplug electronics, and avoid travel.
State Governor Eduardo Leite said preparations had improved since last year’s disaster, citing enhanced emergency teams and river dredging projects. Still, the intensity of this storm has again overwhelmed much of the region’s infrastructure.
The National Institute of Meteorology reported multiple rainfall records and warned that strong winds of 70–90 km/h (43–56 mph) may continue in mountain areas of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina as the cyclone moves offshore.
Rain is expected to persist through the week, especially in Paraná, where isolated storms and wind gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph) may occur. The threat of further flash floods and landslides remains, particularly near recent wildfire burn scars.
Scientists say extreme rainfall and wind events are becoming more frequent due to human-induced climate change, raising concerns about long-term resilience across Brazil’s southern states.
