Storms accompanied by gusts of wind caused roofing, falling trees, flooding and interruptions in the supply of electricity in different cities in São Paulo this Saturday (7).
Given the scenario of instability throughout the state, the São Paulo Civil Defense issued 72 rain alerts to cell phones throughout the day, through the SMS and Cell Broadcast systems.
In Cachoeira Paulista, in Vale do Paraíba, the Emergency Management Center (CGE) classified the phenomenon that caused winds of 126.7 km/h and roofed around 20 homes as an atmospheric microexplosion.
🔎 Atmospheric microburst is a meteorological phenomenon characterized by strong air currents that descend from a storm cloud towards the ground. Upon reaching the surface, the wind spreads horizontally at high speed, which can cause intense gusts and damage to buildings, trees and structures.
According to Civil Defense senior meteorologist William Minhoto, the phenomenon recorded in Cachoeira Paulista had the potential to cause damage.
"The atmospheric microexplosion is a phenomenon characterized by strong descending air currents that, when reaching the ground, cause intense winds. In Cachoeira Paulista, we recorded gusts of 126.7 km/h, with the potential to cause roofing and falling trees. The CGE continues to monitor meteorological conditions and guide Civil Defense actions throughout the state, to anticipate risks and reduce impacts on the population", he said.
In Cachoeira Paulista, in addition to the roofing, there were tree falls and interruptions in the electricity supply. Residents received alerts via the Cell Broadcast system about heavy rain, gusts of wind, electrical discharges and the possibility of hail.
Municipal Civil Defense teams remain in the field to survey the damage and provide assistance to residents. The State Coordination for Protection and Civil Defense also provided humanitarian aid to reinforce assistance to affected families.
Occurrences in different regions
The effects of the storms were recorded in several regions of São Paulo. In Penápolis, winds reached 118 km/h. In Piracicaba, they reached 96.1 km/h, around 4 pm. In Vale do Ribeira, gusts reached 80 km/h.
In Santa Isabel, falling trees, roofing of homes and a landslide on a public road in the central region were recorded. Municipal teams work to survey the damage, remove trees and assist residents. The State Civil Defense will forward humanitarian aid materials to the municipality.
In Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, rain accompanied by gusts of wind caused trees to fall and collapse. In São Roque, trees fell onto public roads and caused interruptions in the electricity supply in several neighborhoods. Teams from the CPFL concessionaire are working to restore service.
In Fartura, two tree falls were recorded, one on a public road and the other in a stream. There were no victims.
In Guaratinguetá, Iguape and Lorena, there were also tree falls on public roads, with no injuries reported.
In Ribeirão Bonito, two trees fell and part of the roof of a bocce court was ripped off by the force of the winds.
In Piracicaba, in addition to the gusts of wind, temporary flooding and falling tree branches were recorded. In Sorocaba, the rain caused temporary flooding on different roads in the city.
In Barueri, in Greater São Paulo, the roof of a supermarket collapsed.
Until the latest updates from the Municipal Protection and Civil Defense Coordinators, there was no record of people injured in the reported incidents.
Accumulated rain and forecast for Sunday
Civil Defense monitoring also identified significant volumes of rain in municipalities in São Paulo. The largest accumulation was recorded in Canas, with 62 millimeters. Lorena (38 mm), Cunha and Aparecida (31 mm each), Ubatuba (29 mm), Lagoinha (26 mm), São José dos Campos (22 mm) and Piquete (20 mm) appear next.
The entire state of São Paulo remains at orange alert level for storms.
For this Sunday (8), the forecast indicates the continuation of rain showers in different regions of São Paulo, with moderate intensity and, occasionally, heavy. Precipitation may be accompanied by electrical discharges and localized gusts of wind, mainly in the east, north and central regions.
Civil Defense monitors meteorological conditions and liaises with the Municipal Protection and Civil Defense Coordinators to monitor the evolution of the scenario.
Care during storms
Civil Defense recommends that the population avoid staying close to trees during intense gusts of wind and keep away from poles, signs, walls and structures that could be hit.
It is also important to collect loose objects in yards, balconies and balconies. During storms, the advice is to seek shelter indoors, away from windows and fragile coverings.
Do not cross flooded streets or attempt to pass through areas with currents, on foot or in a vehicle. In hillside regions, be aware of cracks in the ground and walls, tilting of trees and posts and earth movement.
To receive free SMS alerts, send your location's ZIP code to 40199.
In emergency situations, call Civil Defense by calling 199 or the Fire Department by calling 193.
