Cristo, Bondinho and other tourist attractions are closed due to wind

The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) determined that, from 1pm, the Paineiras-Corcovado and Trem do Corcovado concessionaires suspended the transport of tourists to Christ the Redeemer, which is located within the Tijuca National Park. The removal of the public who were already at the viewpoint would be done progressively.

Other tourist areas in the park were closed, such as Parque Lage, Setor Floresta da Tijuca, Vista Chinesa, Mesa do Imperador, Pedra da Gávea and Pedra Bonita.

Cable car access to Pão de Açúcar has also been closed since 1pm, according to concessionaire Parque Bondinho. The official report says that the measure was taken to ensure the safety of employees and visitors. The closure also includes the Cláudio Coutinho Track and the Morro da Urca trail.

City Hall announced that all natural and urban parks in the city closed their activities at 12pm.

The National Museum, in Quinta da Boa Vista, suspended the visits and workshops that were scheduled for the day. The administration informed that people who had already purchased tickets online will be able to reschedule a new date.

The same happened at the Museum of Tomorrow, the Rio Art Museum, the National Historical Museum and the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center (CCBB), which are located in the central region of the city.

Return home early

The state government and the capital's city hall recommended this Friday that institutions that do not provide essential services close their working hours early so that the population has time to return home before the storm gains more strength.

The decision was taken after confirming the record of winds of 74 km/h in Costa Verde, late this morning, and the meteorological forecast of strong winds also for the capital.

The city of Rio entered Stage 3 at 1 pm on its attention scale, which has five levels. The classification means that one or more occurrences already impact the municipality, affecting the routine of part of the population.

Strong wind

The Meteorological Service of Rio de Janeiro City Hall has already confirmed the occurrence of strong winds in the city this Friday. The speed of the gusts reached 66.6 km/h at Galeão Airport, between 11 am and 12 pm.

At Santos Dumont Airport, the wind reached 64.8 km/h between 12pm and 1pm. Despite the records, the two airports operated without changes until early afternoon this Friday.

“We continue to operate visually and without impacts,” the press office of the concessionaire that operates the international airport told Agência Brasil. At Santos Dumont, the information was that there were no records of flight delays or cancellations.

With moderate to strong winds in several parts of the city, there have already been at least seven incidents of falling trees on roads in the capital.

The strongest wind gust recorded in the state to date, however, occurred in Angra dos Reis, where the speed reached 84.7 km/h at 10:33 am.

*Alana Gandra and Bruno de Freitas Moura collaborated.