“Bomb” Cyclone Wreaks Havoc in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A so-called “bomb” cyclone, similar to a hurricane, hit Brazil hard on Tuesday, June 30th, and caused extensive damage and deaths in several regions. The phenomenon produced a heavy downpour, a sharp drop in temperatures, winds of over 100 km/h, and even snow.

This extratropical cyclone has shifted and will continue changing the weather in the South and Southeast regions in coming days. The states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina should be the most affected.

Many residents shared videos on social media showing the powerful winds and the destruction they caused, such as fallen trees and power poles, ripped tile roofs, and collapsed structures.

Many people were left with no electrical power, trees fell and, according to data, eight people were killed in Brazil’s southern region. The government advises people to remain at home and avoid contact with wiring and metal structures in the streets.

Bomb cyclone path in Brazil

Yesterday, July 1st, the cyclone headed toward the ocean, when it affected the country’s coast. According to the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), the consequences were larger swells and heavy seas, which were expected to occur in the stretch between Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro.

Bomb cyclone in the Southeast

The impact should be less in Brazil’s Southeast. The cyclone should only graze the State of São Paulo, but, according to the Emergency Management Center (CGE), temperatures in the capital should drop to 8ºC between Thursday and Friday.

On Tuesday, June 30th, when the cyclone hit Brazil, two speedboats and seven vessels sank in Peruíbe, on the São Paulo coast. The heavy gale felled trees in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

“As we are under the influence of the edge of this cyclone, conditions are also favorable for high winds. The state of São Paulo may experience gusts around 80 km per hour on Wednesday,” said César Soares, Climatempo’s meteorologist.

In Rio, the forecast is for winds of up to 76 km/h in the capital and swells that should reach 3.5 meters, according to the Rio Operations Center.