Strong Wind Alert on the Coastlines of South and Southeast Brazil

MetSul Meteorologia warns of strong to very strong winds this weekend between the coastlines of Santa Catarina and the state of Rio de Janeiro, also affecting the coasts of Paraná and São Paulo.
The strong to very strong winds will be a result of a low-pressure system off the South of Brazil’s coast and the advance of a cold front with a strong cold air mass for this time of the year behind it.
Gusts are expected to range from 60 km/h to 80 km/h on average, but in some areas, the winds could be stronger with gusts reaching close to and around 100 km/h.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the winds will intensify throughout the day due to the low-pressure system, with gusts between 40 km/h and 70 km/h in most cities. Stronger gusts are forecasted between the metropolitan area and the North Coast in the second half of the day.
In Santa Catarina, the winds will also pick up significantly in the East of the state from the afternoon to the evening today, with gusts between 50 km/h and 70 km/h and above 80 km/h in coastal areas. Numerical models indicate the possibility of very strong winds in the second half of the day in the Greater Florianópolis region with gusts between 80 km/h and 100 km/h.
The area of strong to very strong winds will then move North and reach the coastlines of Paraná and Southern São Paulo to Baixada Santista later on Saturday with gusts averaging between 50 km/h and 70 km/h, locally reaching 80 km/h to 100 km/h.
With the circulation of the low-pressure system, the strong winds will shift Northeast and affect the North Coast of São Paulo by the end of Saturday or early Sunday, also reaching the coastlines of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo on Sunday with gusts of 40 km/h to 60 km/h, occasionally peaking at 60 km/h to 80 km/h.
The two regions at highest risk for disruptions due to strong winds are the coastal areas of Santa Catarina on Saturday, especially Greater Florianópolis and part of the North Coast, and the coast of São Paulo between late Sunday and early Monday.
In the Southeast, moderate to strong winds are expected even in areas far from the coast in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais during Sunday with the arrival of a cold air mass.
The very strong winds at sea are likely to bring high sea levels with a risk of storm surges on the coastlines of South and Southeast Brazil, especially between Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro. Waves could reach up to 3 to 4 meters in some areas, posing a danger of storm tides and damage along the coast.