On the last weekend of September, a storm accompanied by hail struck residential areas in Santiago, in central Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.
Roofs were damaged within a short period, and rainwater entered homes, forcing residents to temporarily cover their houses with tarps.
The damage was not limited to hail damage in one city; it was part of the tally of damage from rain, strong winds, and hail that continued from September 25.
3-Line Summary
1. Approximately 3,000 homes damaged by hail in Santiago
2. Damage reported in 68 municipalities across the state
3. Alerts and damage tallies should be viewed according to their respective points in time
Roofs and home interiors were both damaged in Santiago
In Santiago, in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, approximately 3,000 homes were damaged after hail fell. According to a G1 report, chunks of ice fell on the city within a few minutes, and leaks occurred in homes with damaged roofs. The fact that residents had to deal with rainwater using buckets and mops and cover their homes with tarps shows that the hail damage did not end with simple damage to exterior walls or vehicles.
Support for affected residents was provided at a municipal gymnasium. Volunteers distributed tarps, hygiene products, and food, and approximately 25,000㎡ of tarps had been delivered since Sunday afternoon. 13 people evacuated and remained at the site. Santiago was described as the municipality in this damage tally where the largest number of residents were affected.
School classes were also suspended on September 28 and 29. At the time, the mayor said that whether to resume classes or extend the closure would be reassessed, but the provided material does not contain the final decision that followed.
Damage accumulated across 68 municipalities from September 25
Rio Grande do Sul state civil defense authorities tallied that the heavy rain, strong winds, and hail continuing from September 25 had caused injury or property damage in 68 municipalities. As of the night of September 28, there were 4 injured people and 3만9,117 affected people (9117). There were no records of deaths or missing people.
The same tally listed 4,982 damaged homes (4982) and 153 homes that had lost their roofs. Viewing Santiago’s figure of approximately 3,000 homes alongside the statewide tally shows that this storm was not a temporary disruption limited to one neighborhood, but a weather disaster spanning multiple regions.
The September 29 alert pointed to the influence of cold air and low pressure
InfoMoney reported that on September 29, Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) maintained an orange alert warning of storm risks in parts of central and southern Brazil. According to the report, a mid-latitude cyclone formed between Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul state, and the Atlantic, along with a cold front, was linked to heavy rain, winds of up to 100㎞ per hour, and the possibility of hail.
This alert was an announcement warning of the day’s risks, while the actual damage in Santiago had already affected residents’ homes and school operations. When assessing the scale of the damage, it is more important to examine the results confirmed on site—such as roof damage, the number of evacuees, and relief supplies—alongside the intensity of the forecast.
References
Tags #BrazilStorm #Hailstorm #Santiago #RioGrandeDoSul #BrazilHail #HomeDamage #TarpSupport #WeatherDisaster #MidLatitudeCyclone #ColdFront #BrazilWeather #HeavyRainDamage