This Friday (02), the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) released two orange warnings of “storm danger” and “intense rain” for the first weekend of 2026. The risk area covers a large part of the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, as well as Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Goiás and the Federal District, driven by the arrival of a cold front along the coast of São Paulo.
According to Inmet, the orange alert is the penultimate on the severity scale. It indicates the possibility of winds of up to 100 km/h, hail, flooding and power cuts. For the rest of the country, a yellow warning of “potential danger” is valid, with winds of up to 60 km/h and a lower risk of damage.
The storm warning affects, in São Paulo, the metropolitan region, south coast, Vale do Paraíba, São José do Rio Preto and Ribeirão Preto. In Rio de Janeiro, practically the entire state is on alert, with a focus on Baixada Fluminense and the capital. The same dangerous situation is predicted for Minas Gerais and parts of the Center-West.
The agency warns of damage to plantations and falling trees. In case of gusts of wind, the recommendation is that the population does not take shelter under trees or park vehicles near transmission towers or advertising signs. Inmet also advises the disconnection of electrical devices and the general energy supply.
