Extratropical Cyclone Killed 13 in Brazil, 20 Missing, Thousands Left Homeless

A cyclone hit southern Brazil and resulted in numerous casualties. Some were missing, and thousands were left homeless, according to reports.

Cyclone Casualties, Missing Brazil

At least 13 people were killed after an extratropical cyclone hit Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Phys.org reported. Two bodies were reportedly found in the coastal town of Caraa.

One of the fatalities was reportedly a four-month-old baby. A woman in Sao Leopoldo also told the local newspaper Estadao that the water came up to their waist inside their home. They were fortunate that firefighters arrived in time and helped them evacuate. The woman said the experience was a "nightmare." Other people were rescued via helicopter.

Thousands of residents were forced to leave their homes due to torrential rain and strong winds Thursday and Friday. The storm flooded the neighborhood, and 20 have gone missing, according to the government of Rio Grande do Sul in a press release, Reuters reported.

Caraa, with over 8,000 population, was one of the hardest affected along the cyclone's path. Our concern about the situation in Caraa is excellent. The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, visited the area and stressed the importance of swiftly mapping the most damaged areas and identifying the people who want assistance.

According to officials, Maquine, a municipality on the east coast, has gotten about a foot of rain as of Friday night.

Many locals in the afflicted areas have sought refuge in their towns' outdoor sports facilities. In numerous locations, there is a risk of landslides, according to the authorities.

According to Leite, authorities have performed 2,400 rescues in the previous two days. He added that their primary goal is protecting and saving people's lives. They also find missing people, keep trapped people, and help families in any way possible.

What's An Extratropical Cyclone?

Extratropical cyclones, also known as wave cyclones or midlatitude cyclones, are a particular category of the storm system that develops at medium or high latitudes in frontal zones, areas with significant horizontal temperature changes. The more severe cyclones or hurricanes of the tropics, which occur in areas of somewhat consistent temperature, stand in contrast to extratropical cyclones, per Britannica.

A wave occurs on a frontal surface separating a warm air mass from a cold air mass, which is how extratropical cyclones are said to arise by the polar-front theory. The pressure at the disturbance's center decreases as the wave's amplitude grows, eventually strengthening to the point where cyclonic circulation starts.

When the warm tropical air of such a system is completely covered by the cold air mass from the north in the Northern Hemisphere or from the south in the Southern Hemisphere on the western side of such a cyclone, the system begins to degrade. Occlusion is the term for this action.

According to the National Data Buoy Center, tropical cyclones are smaller than extratropical ones. The wind speed and direction in the atmosphere reportedly provide the extratropical low-pressure areas' energy.

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