Severe Events on Rio Grande do Sul from 2004 to 2008

Abstract

It was analyzed the occurrence of severe events in the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) from 2004 to 2008, the regions affected by them and the impact of severe event that reached the greatest number of  municipalities. Data of severe events occurrence and RS municipalities affected by them, obtained from CEDCRS (Coordenadoria Estadual de defesa Civil do RS) database, were used. The results showed that: 247 severe events affected 55,6% of the RS municipalities; windstorm and hail were the RS severe events more frequently registered; the quarters and the RS region most affected by severe events were Oct-Nov-Dec and Jul-Aug-Sep, and the north portion of state, respectively. In addition, hail affected 47,8% of RS municipalities affected by severe events; generated emergence situation in 70,2% of communications, and reached preferentially the northwest of state.