Cyclone formation causes hail in RS, which has a warning for heavy rain and even tornadoes A cold front associated with the formation of an extratropical cyclone in the ocean causes severe weather in Rio Grande do Sul this Thursday (6). During the morning, municipalities in the North Region recorded hail. The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) and Civil Defense issued warnings of great danger for storms, with a risk of winds exceeding 100 km/h and the formation of tornadoes throughout the day. In the interior of Cruzaltense, hailstorms hit at least six communities. According to Civil Defense, the first reports occurred around 7:45 am. Despite the size of the ice stones, there is no information about damage. The municipalities of São Valentim, Barão de Cotegipe and Erechim also recorded the phenomenon, with no record of disturbances. ? Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp Instability is expected to intensify between the afternoon and evening of this Thursday. According to Climatempo Meteorologia, the scenario is favored by the action of a Low Level Jet (JBN) and the formation of a low pressure area between Uruguay and the south of Rio Grande do Sul, which evolves into an extratropical cyclone close to the coast. The first areas hit by the heaviest rains are the West, Campanha and Missões. As the system advances, instability spreads to the Central Region, the Valleys, the Metropolitan Region, the Costa Doce and part of the South Region. Climatempo and the state Civil Defense point to the possibility of large hail and the occurrence of tornadoes, especially in the Northwest of Rio Grande do Sul. Inmet published a warning of great danger for storms, valid from 12pm this Thursday. The agency predicts rain of more than 60 millimeters per hour, winds above 100 km/h and hail. There is a great risk of damage to buildings, electricity cuts, damage to crops, falling trees and flooding. The areas at greatest risk, according to Inmet, include the Southwest, the Western Center, the Northwest, the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, the Southeast and the Eastern Center of Rio Grande do Sul. The agency advises the population to turn off electrical appliances, protect documents in plastic bags and avoid staying outdoors. ?Extreme conditions occur under the influence of the El Niño phenomenon, which already reached the strong category at the beginning of August. Data from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show that the temperature anomaly in the central Pacific Ocean reached 1.5ºC above average. The forecast is that the phenomenon will gain more strength until spring and have impacts on the climate until the beginning of 2027. In Porto Alegre, the municipal Civil Defense issued an orange warning for windstorms, valid from 7pm this Thursday until 10am on Friday (7). The period of greatest attention will be between 8 pm and 4 am, with gusts that can reach 100 km/h and rainfall accumulations of 30 millimeters. The combination of strong wind and wet soil increases the risk of falling trees. The hydrological scenario in the capital also remains under monitoring. In the Ilhas region, in the Arquipélago neighborhood, the level of Guaíba may fluctuate between the levels of attention and warning during the cyclone's passage. For Friday, Inmet issued new warnings. There is a forecast of gales, with gusts between 60 km/h and 100 km/h, and a warning of potential danger for a decline in temperature, which could register a drop of between 3ºC and 5ºC in a large part of the state. A high seas cyclone can also cause winds exceeding 70 km/h in the Eastern belt during the early hours and morning. Given the recent history of climate damage, the federal government recognized the emergency situation in four municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul. The ordinance from the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development was published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) this Thursday. The recognition covers Ametista do Sul and Nova Bassano, affected by intense rains on the 29th and 23rd of July, respectively; Frederico Westphalen, hit by a gale on July 28; and Santa Tereza, which recorded flooding on July 27th. Cyclone formation causes hail in Erechim, Curzaltense and other cities in RS; Civil Defense issues warning for heavy rain and even tornadoes Ivalino Rafael Gasparetto/Personal archive and Rosângela Basse/Personal archive VIDEOS: Everything about RS