Brazil Weather Agency Warns of Storms in Southeast and South

Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) has issued an alert for storms expected to affect the Southeast and South regions of the country, according to the agency's latest forecast.

The bulletin indicates that Friday will bring rainfall to the Center-South, while the Northeast is expected to experience unusually dry conditions, with relative humidity dropping below 20% in some areas.

A cold front currently moving across the country is responsible for the shift in weather, bringing rain and a decline in temperatures to at least seven states. Cold fronts typically form when a mass of cold air advances into a region previously dominated by warmer air, often triggering abrupt changes in atmospheric conditions.

Such systems can generate intense storms, particularly when they interact with warm, humid air, a combination that frequently produces strong winds, heavy rainfall, and, in some cases, hail or localized flooding.

Inmet has urged residents in the affected states to monitor official updates closely, warning that the storms could disrupt transport, cause power outages, or damage property in vulnerable areas.

Meanwhile, the extremely low humidity forecast for the Northeast raises separate concerns, as such conditions are typically associated with an increased risk of wildfires and respiratory health problems, particularly among children, the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions.

The contrasting weather patterns — heavy rain in the south of the country and dry air in the northeast — reflect Brazil's vast geographic diversity, where different climatic zones can experience markedly different conditions simultaneously.

Authorities have not yet detailed specific preventive measures beyond the general advisory, though similar past alerts have prompted local governments to activate emergency response protocols in the most affected municipalities.