Catastrophic flood destruction in Brazil could get worse with more rain on the way

AccuWeather meteorologists say the massive flooding that has ravaged southern Brazil for weeks could worsen as additional storms enter the flood-ravaged area.

Heavy rains have repeatedly flooded southern Brazil and Uruguay since late April, causing short-term flooding of streams and long-term rivers.

The death toll rose to 149, with 124 still missing, ABC news reported Tuesday.

More than 30,000 soldiers and police were mobilized to rescue nearly 70,000 people and 10,000 animals, but the spread of misinformation is slowing rescue and recovery, according to the Associated Press.

A flood in early May devastated the city of Rio Grande do Sul when the Taquari River reached a new 150-year height record – 4 meters (12 feet). MetSul Meteorologya weather media organization in Brazil, said that in 30 years covering weather, it had never observed such catastrophic destruction.

Aerial view of Cruzeiro do Sul after the devastating floods that hit the region, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on May 14, 2024. Rivers in southern Brazil rose again the day before as flood rescue efforts continued. have intensified. So far, heavy rains, floods and landslides that have devastated the south of the state of Rio Grande do Sul for around two weeks have left 147 dead, around 600,000 people displaced, more than 800 injured and 127 people reported missing. (NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images)

Unfortunately, more rain is forecast.

“A slow-moving cold front will drift from Uruguay into Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on Wednesday and Thursday, but will stop on Friday with additional rain, some heavy, and thunderstorms across the region next weekend. ,” said Jason Nicholls, AccuWeather’s chief international meteorologist. He explained.

Nicholls added that widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches (mm) is likely from northern Rio Grande do Sul to Santa Catarina on Thursday afternoon and Friday. This could quickly become a problem in the Porto Alegre region, where the airport flooded last week. Localized quantities can reach 20 centimeters. Porto Alegre, Brazil, reported 13.03 inches (331 mm) of rain over four days, more than the historical average rainfall for the entire month of May in the city of 4.53 inches.

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