A severe meteorological event known as a supercell triggered extreme rainfall across cities in the Mata Mineira, such as Juiz de Fora and Ubá, with reported precipitation close to 190 millimeters in just 24 hours, a volume typically expected for the entire month of February. The impact has been disastrous, with the death toll exceeding 20 individuals, highlighting the urgency of understanding such violent weather patterns.

Meteorologists attribute this extreme weather to a combination of high temperatures, increased humidity, and the influence of an atmospheric trough, which together created conditions conducive to the development of organized, deep clouds. Alexandre Nascimento, a meteorologist and managing partner of Nottus, noted that rainfall accumulations in the hardest-hit areas within a mere 72 hours fluctuated between 205 and 230 millimeters, surpassing the historical average for the month, generally ranging from 170 to 200 millimeters.

Given that such supercell formations are typically more common in summer, when the Southeast region of Brazil experiences its peak rainy season, the implications of this event underscore the potential for more frequent and intense storms due to climate change. As extreme weather becomes increasingly normal, communities and authorities face heightened challenges in disaster preparedness and response, aiming to mitigate the impact of future storms on vulnerable populations.