Cold Front and Strong Wind Alert Change Weather in Rio

The passage of a cold front and the forecast of strong winds mobilized Rio de Janeiro recently, prompting the city hall to issue a severe alert to the population. In addition to the windstorm, the arrival of a strong cold air mass lowered temperatures and brought rain to the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. The climate instability scenario placed the municipality in an alert stage.

Strong Wind Alert in the Fluminense Capital

The Municipal Civil Defense of Rio de Janeiro sent emergency messages directly to residents’ phones via cell broadcast technology. The municipality entered Stage 2, the second level on a severity scale that goes up to 5, due to the forecast of moderate to strong winds, with the possibility of very strong gusts of 76 km/h to 90 km/h. Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere urged caution and highlighted that, despite the alert, general routine would not experience immediate widespread changes.

Park Closures and Safety Recommendations

As a preventive measure, the city hall closed municipal parks at noon on Friday. The Rio Alert System and the National Institute of Meteorology recommended that people avoid sheltering under trees or metal roofs, refrain from outdoor sports, and close doors and windows. It is also advised not to park vehicles near transmission towers and billboards, and to avoid contact with fallen electrical cables. In emergencies, residents can contact Civil Defense at 199 or the Fire Department at 193.

Cold Front Brings Rain and Temperature Drop

A strong cold air mass that had entered from the South of Brazil advanced into the Southeast region, causing temperatures to decline. In Rio de Janeiro, the forecast indicates cold days with cloudy skies and constant rain throughout the day, potentially reaching moderate intensity in parts of the Greater Rio. According to Climatempo, temperatures should gradually rise again during the week.

Wind Records in City Areas

Even before the apex of the cold front, several weather stations were already recording expressive wind gusts in the Fluminense capital. Santos Dumont Airport recorded winds of 57.4 km/h, while Copacabana Fort marked 56.2 km/h and Santa Cruz Air Base reported 55.6 km/h. Other records were taken at Galeão Airport with 51.8 km/h, in Jacarepaguá with 48.2 km/h, in Marambaia with 47.5 km/h, and at Campo dos Afonsos Aerodrome with 42.6 km/h.

Instability Reaches Other Southeast Areas

According to the National Institute of Meteorology, the climatic instability is not confined to Fluminense territory. The start of the week shows increased cloudiness and isolated rain along the northern coast of São Paulo, the state of Rio de Janeiro, the southern coast of Espírito Santo, and the border between Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. In São Paulo’s capital, for example, the weather is predominantly cloudy with rain, with maximum temperatures not expected to exceed 20°C.

With information from O GLOBO, Folha de S.Paulo.