Cold wave heads for Southeast and Midwest and registers 5ºC

The cold wave that hit the south and center-south of the country on Tuesday (May 17) shall remain until tomorrow (May 19), leading to temperature drops of more than 5°C, and also reaching the Southeast and Center-West regions, Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) warns.

The cold weather has affected several regions in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Distrito Federal, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and Tocantins. According to Inmet, last night following temperatures were registered: -2.5°C in Bom Jardim da Serra (SC), 0°C in São José dos Ausentes (RS), 1.7° C in Cambará do Sul (RS), 2.6°C in Vacaria (RS), and 2.6°C in Inácio Martins (PR).

In the Southeast region, temperatures dropped to -0.1°C in Campos do Jordão (SP), 1.4°C in Pico do Couto (RJ), 2.1°C in Itapira (SP), 3.4°C in Maria da Fé (MG), and 4°C in Nova Friburgo (RJ). In Goiás state, the minimum temperature recorded was 4.8°C in Mineiros, and 5.1°C in Rio Verde.

Inmet has issued a frost warning, which can affect plantations with temperatures of up to 3ºC in the states of Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, and south of Rio de Janeiro. In Brasília, the temperature forecast for tomorrow is between 5ºC and 21ºC. Today, the coldest temperature in the capital stood at 9ºC.

Heavy rains

Inmet has released a red alert for heavy rains in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. According to the institute's forecast, it can rain between 30 and 60 millimeters (mm) in an hour or 50 to 100 mm throughout the day, with strong winds of up to 100 km/h.

There is also an alert for coastal winds until tomorrow that may reach from the southeast of Rio Grande do Sul to the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. Yesterday, Inmet warned of the possible evolution of a cyclone into the subtropical storm Yakecan in the south of the country.