Forecast of 'strong' El Niño in 2026 rekindles flood warning and tests RS's preparedness During the month of August, all regions of Rio Grande do Sul may experience above-average rainfall and the risk of severe weather, as Climatempo Meteorologia points out. After a brief respite, a cold front is expected to cause storms and winds of up to 100 km/h this Saturday (1st). Instability in the state is influenced by the strengthening of the El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean. The forecast indicates that the climate event will have strong to very strong intensity, reaching a maximum between spring 2026 and the beginning of summer. The warming of the South Atlantic Ocean also facilitates the formation of cold fronts. ? Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp For August, the greatest excess rain is expected to occur in the West, Missions, Northwest, Plateau, Central Region and Taquari and Caí Valleys. The least rainy weeks should be the second and last of the month. In Serra, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre and on the Coast, thermometers are slightly above standard. Excess cloudiness makes afternoons colder and more humid, while early mornings tend to be less cold. Throughout the month, there is a risk of new episodes of severe weather, with the possibility of large hail, strong winds, intense rain and even tornadoes. The rivers may have new elevations due to the large volumes accumulated in July. ? El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs at irregular intervals, generally every 2 to 7 years. It is characterized by warming greater than or equal to 0.5ºC of the surface waters of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean. This warming alters the circulation of winds and the distribution of heat and humidity around the globe. In Brazil, the effects of El Niño are different: while it causes droughts in the North and Northeast regions, it significantly increases the volume and frequency of rain in the South Region. Find out what the consequences of El Niño are for RS Weekend This Saturday (1st), a cold front associated with a trough advances through Rio Grande do Sul. The rain begins at dawn in the West and in Campanha and spreads to the other regions throughout the day. In the Capital, cloudiness increases in the afternoon, with showers and thunderstorms. There is a risk of isolated thunderstorms, electrical discharges and hail. Wind gusts can exceed 90 km/h during storms. The largest volumes of precipitation occur in the West, Campanha and Missões, with up to 70 millimeters. Before the rain, thermometers reach 33°C in the Metropolitan Region, Vales and North. On Sunday (2), the cold front moves away and the weather becomes firm again, with the entry of a mass of cold air that leaves temperatures milder. On Monday (3), the day starts with pleasant weather, but a new cold front brings rain showers and storms to the West, Campaign and Missions from the evening onwards. Heavy rain continues to affect RS Duda Fortes/Agência RBS VIDEOS: Everything about RS