Cyclone wreaks havoc in cities in RS and SC and strong winds in PR and SP

The new extratropical cyclone that is hitting the states of the southern region of the country caused damage in 35 cities in Rio Grande do Sul and many in Santa Catarina in the early hours of this Thursday (13). The phenomenon also caused strong winds in Paraná and on the coast of São Paulo.

According to the Rio Grande do Sul Civil Defense, the state as a whole remains on high alert or attention, with records of river overflows, floods, property damage, among others, caused by strong winds and storms and hail. Seven highways in the state are blocked in full or in part this morning.

At least three municipalities have already declared an emergency situation, such as Vera Cruz, Sobradinho and Joia. In the city of Caraá, on the north coast, the hardest hit last month by another cyclone, winds of up to 120 km/h were recorded. Almost half a million people were left without electricity overnight, a situation that is returning to normal this morning.

The acting governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Gabriel Souza, suspended classes this Thursday (13) in state network schools, and at least 12 cities followed the guidance for the municipal network. Universities and private institutions also adhered to the recommendation.

A Situation Room was set up by the government to monitor the progress of the phenomenon and guide mayors and the population on measures to be taken to mitigate the effects.

In the state of Santa Catarina, the Civil Defense has not yet released a complete balance sheet at the time of writing this report, but Thursday (13) dawned with roofs being knocked off of houses, trees uprooted in at least six cities due to the windstorm and heavy rains. at dawn.

According to the government of Santa Catarina, damage was recorded in cities in the western region; Serra and Vale do Itajaí, in the East, and North of the state.

Trees fell, damage to houses and other damage were also recorded in cities in the South and East regions of Paraná. Part of the state had heavy rains and winds since the end of the night of Wednesday (12) and the early hours of this Thursday (13), also leaving residents without power.

In São Paulo, the cyclone caused strong winds in the late morning, damaged some houses and knocked down trees in several parts of the capital and coast. The Emergency Management Center reported that there is still a forecast of winds of around 90 km / h throughout the day and a drop in temperature at night.

The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) informs that a cold front is forming soon in the wake of the cyclone, which has already moved to the sea, and will drop the minimum temperatures this Thursday (13) at night, known as “inverted minimum” . The capitals of the South and the city of São Paulo must register 9° and 10° at night.