Heavy rains in southern Brazil leave at least 2 dead and more than 2,600 displaced

Metaculus

Will Rio Grande do Sul suffer new severe flooding by the August 2025?

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"[C]limate change is just a very, very expensive form of tax."

"I believe in climate change caused by human beings. What I'm skeptical about is the glib notion that it means the end of the world as we know it."

"The clock is no longer just ticking, it is banging."

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"Humanity is on thin ice — and that ice is melting fast."

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Is Climate Change an Existential Threat?

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Authorities in Brazil's southernmost state Rio Grande do Sul reported on Friday that three people have died, one is missing and more than 6,000 have been forced to leave their homes due to heavy rains that have hit the state this week.

CNN Brasil

Authorities in Brazil's southernmost state Rio Grande do Sul reported on Friday that three people have died, one is missing and more than 6,000 have been forced to leave their homes due to heavy rains that have hit the state this week.

The severe weather has caused five rivers statewide to rise above flood levels and widespread infrastructure damage across 90 municipalities such as Canoas, which borders the state's capital Porto Alegre.

Mercopress

XINHUA

The severe weather has caused five rivers statewide to rise above flood levels and widespread infrastructure damage across 90 municipalities such as Canoas, which borders the state's capital Porto Alegre.

Brazil's army said in a statement on Wednesday that troops have been deployed to seven hard-hit cities, including Santa Maria and the town of Santana do Livramento, near Uruguay.

Brazil's army said in a statement on Wednesday that troops have been deployed to seven hard-hit cities, including Santa Maria and the town of Santana do Livramento, near Uruguay.

According to Governor Eduardo Leite, some regions had received more than 350 millimeters (14 inches) of rain as of Wednesday, with rainfall in municipalities such as Jaguari and Cachoeira do Sul in 48 hours more than twice as high as the historical average for the entire month of June.

According to Governor Eduardo Leite, some regions had received more than 350 millimeters (14 inches) of rain as of Wednesday, with rainfall in municipalities such as Jaguari and Cachoeira do Sul in 48 hours more than twice as high as the historical average for the entire month of June.

Many of the municipalities hit were damaged last year during <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.improvethenews.org/story/2024/flooding-claims-dozens-of-lives-in-southern-brazil">floods that left more than 100 people dead statewide</a>, and the state's capital, Porto Alegre, could soon be affected as the level of the Guaíba River is expected to rise in the coming days.

Many of the municipalities hit were damaged last year during floods that left more than 100 people dead statewide, and the state's capital, Porto Alegre, could soon be affected as the level of the Guaíba River is expected to rise in the coming days.

An orange alert for rain and strong winds had been in place from Wednesday to Friday. Isolated heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected on Friday and Saturday across the state, with isolated moderate rain on Sunday.

ReliefWeb

An orange alert for rain and strong winds had been in place from Wednesday to Friday. Isolated heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected on Friday and Saturday across the state, with isolated moderate rain on Sunday.

Increasingly, severe rainstorms and flooding are being linked to global warming and climate change. Warmer weather allows air to retain more water vapor, which is why we must implement policies to cool the global temperature, save lives, and avoid billions of dollars in damage.

Increasingly, severe rainstorms and flooding are being linked to global warming and climate change. Warmer weather allows air to retain more water vapor, which is why we must implement policies to cool the global temperature, save lives, and avoid billions of dollars in damage.

The Conversation

Climate change is making flooding worse: 3 reasons the world is seeing more record-breaking deluges and flash floods

Narrative A

It's easy to dismiss extreme weather events as a consequence of climate change, but in reality, they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.

It's easy to dismiss extreme weather events as a consequence of climate change, but in reality, they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.

Financial Times

Fires and floods: can science link extreme weather to climate change?

Narrative B

There's a 14% chance that Rio Grande do Sul will suffer new severe flooding by August 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 14% chance that Rio Grande do Sul will suffer new severe flooding by August 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Three Dead, Thousands Displaced as Heavy Rains Hit Southern Brazil

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Three Dead, Thousands Displaced as Heavy Rains Hit Southern Brazil

The Spin

Narrative A

Narrative B

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Trump

Michaels

Harris

Sunak

Francis

Biden

Macron

Thunberg

Merkel

Attenborough

Guterres

Mann

Articles on this story

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