Brazil Starts Weekend With Heavy Rain, Flooding

By Courtney Spamer, Meteorologist

February 6,2015; 10:10PM,EST

 

 

A system hung up in southern Brazil will bring a soggy end to the week with enough rain to cause flooding.
A front extending from a system in the Atlantic will continue to pull in moisture bring round after round of drenching thunderstorms late Friday through Saturday and Saturday night.
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
Areas across Goias and Minas Gerais will likely get the heaviest rainfall rates, totaling possibly as much as 75 mm (3 inches) by Sunday morning.
The typical summertime thunderstorms are expected to continue into the weekend and early in the new week as the font holds over the area. However, the core of heaviest rain should shift westward, into Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Rondonia, as well as into Bolivia.