A powerful extratropical cyclone forming near the coast of Argentina is set to unleash a wave of severe weather across southern Brazil starting Thursday. The system, a large low-pressure area born from the clash of warm and cold air masses, will not directly hit Brazilian territory but will send its effects rippling through multiple regions.
Meteorologists warn the cyclone will drive exceptionally strong winds, particularly along the southern Brazilian coast. Gusts could reach between 70 and 90 kilometers per hour in parts of Rio Grande do Sul on Thursday, with some areas potentially seeing even higher speeds. The associated cold front is expected to sweep into western Rio Grande do Sul by Thursday night, bringing heavy to intense rainfall and a risk of severe weather, including possible gale-force winds exceeding 100 km/h in some locations.
The most intense wind impacts will be felt along the Argentine coast and the southern and eastern Uruguayan coasts, where gusts may surpass 100 km/h over the weekend. Even before the cold front arrives, strong, warm, and dry winds will affect the three southern states, Mato Grosso do Sul, and interior São Paulo on Thursday, contributing to rising temperatures.
By the weekend, a strong polar air mass is forecast to plunge into Brazil, marking what could be the most significant temperature drop of the year so far. The cold air is expected to begin entering the country from the extreme south on Friday, intensifying on Saturday and Sunday as it spreads rapidly across the South, Southeast, and Center-West regions, with effects reaching even into western Amazonia.
The coldest mornings are predicted between Sunday and Tuesday. In the three southern states, minimum temperatures are likely to range between 0°C and 5°C in many municipalities, with the possibility of sub-zero readings in various locations. In higher altitude areas, thermometers could dip to -5°C, according to MetSul Meteorologia. Widespread frost is also anticipated, potentially the most extensive of the year so far, posing risks to agriculture.
Specific capital city forecasts highlight the chill: Porto Alegre may see lows near 9°C on Sunday, Curitiba could drop to 6°C by Monday, Florianópolis might hover around 11°C from Sunday to Monday, São Paulo is expected to reach 11°C on Monday and about 10°C on Tuesday, and Rio de Janeiro could fall to near 20°C on Monday. In the Center-West, Campo Grande may see a low of 9°C on Sunday, while Brasília's minimums are expected to stay around 18°C throughout the week.
The cyclone itself will peak in intensity over the Atlantic on Saturday, with estimated winds of up to 180 km/h in open sea, far from the coast. By Sunday, it will continue moving away from South America, and by Monday, it will be thousands of kilometers from Brazil. The primary effect for Brazil is the facilitation of stronger winds and the passage of the associated cold front, which will cause atmospheric pressure variations in states like Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, further intensifying winds.
These severe weather conditions, including high winds, heavy rain, and a sharp temperature drop, could potentially disrupt outdoor football matches or training schedules in the affected southern regions over the coming days. Based on reporting from g1.