Brazil Ends Weekend With Heavy Rain, Flooding

By Courtney Spamer, Meteorologist

February 8,2015; 7:43PM,EST

 

 

A system stalled in eastern Brazil will bring more heavy rain to the area through Sunday, bringing the continued risk of flooding.
A front extending from a system in the Atlantic will continue to pull in moisture bringing round after round of drenching thunderstorms. Heavy thunderstorms began across the region on Friday and lasted through Saturday.
States of Brazil that will see the clusters of thunderstorms and rain include Minas Gerais, Goias, Tocantins, the Federal District and southern Bahia. The heaviest rain is expected in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia, as well as large cities such as Belo Horizonte and Rio De Janeiro.

Some of these areas have been fighting with drought. AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Rob Miller commented that "cities like Brasilia and Belo Horizonte, have been experiencing a significant lack of rainfall over the past few months, leading to a substantial drought."
In fact, Belo Horizonte had only 34.5 mm (1.36 inches) of rain through the month of January. The normal rainfall total through the first month of the year is more like 250 mm (10 inches).
The more active pattern could help aid the effects from the lack of rain as of late. However, Miller also warned that all of this rain might not be beneficial.
"With a dry ground and heavy rainfall rates, localized flash flooding can occur."
RELATED:
AccuWeather.com Forecast for Belo Horizonte
Brazil National Satellite Map
Brasilia Extended Forecast at AccuWeather.com
From Friday into Saturday, rainfall exceeded 75 mm (3 inches) just to the south of Brasilia. Curvelo, in the state of Minas Gerias, received nearly 100 mm (4 inches) of rain on Saturday. Several other areas reported in excess of 50 mm (2 inches) of rain on Friday and Saturday. Through Sunday, additional rainfall could once again 50 mm (2 inches) in isolated areas.
Locally drenching thunderstorms will remain across these areas through the start of the coming week, but as the disturbance gradually dissipated, so will the threat for flooding rainfall.