Swollen rivers continued rising in Rio Grande do Sul during the weekend as torrential rainfall struck Brazil’s southernmost state once again. On Sunday, Brazilian officials and researchers issued new flood alerts for the coming days.
The Institute of Hydraulic Research at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul on Sunday forecast a new rise in the levels of the Guaíba River, which runs adjacent to state capital Porto Alegre. The lake could rise to a record-setting 5.5 meters depending on rainfall and winds, the institute said, well above the flood stage of 3 meters.
The Guaíba River kept rising this Monday morning and had reached 4.8 meters by 9 am. The current record level of the lake (5.33 meters) was reached a week ago.
The National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (Cemaden), a federal agency, issued an alert for the “very high” probability of hydrological risk events in the coming days in both Rio Grande do Sul and its northern neighbor Santa Catarina.
Summary: As heavy rain causes rivers to swell in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, flood alerts have been issued, with the Guaíba River expected to reach record levels. Evacuation orders are in place as the situation worsens, with millions affected and significant loss of life.