The challenges of the Brazilian electric energy regulatory agency on mitigate effects from 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods


Safety levels identified as ‘Normal’ or ‘Warning’ indicate that the anomalies identified do not compromise the safety of the structure (they can be understood as neglect and poor maintenance), or compromise its integrity in the short term, and should be controlled and monitored over time. On the other hand, ‘Alert’ or ‘Emergency’ classifications indicate short-term compromise, or an imminent risk of rupture or collapse, and measures should be taken to eliminate the problem. Before the extreme weather event, the state had three plants in a state of WARNING for reasons unrelated to the events observed: PCH Guarita, PCH Passo do Inferno and CGH Herval[16] covered by Dam Safety Law.


. The latter two were not


4. Background to the Events of May 2024 The climatic event in Rio Grande do Sul has its origins in the warming of the waters of the Pacific Ocean, a phenomenon studied and recorded in numerous publications, known as El Niño, with the combination of special meteorological conditions installed over the state from April 29, 2024. An atmospheric block caused by a high-pressure system in central-southern Brazil prevented the movement of typical weather systems (extratropical cyclone, cold front, trough) that cause precipitation[17]


Temperatures where the anticyclone acted were five to ten degrees Celsius above what is historically recorded by the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET). Because of this, the areas of instability were confined to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, characterizing a stationary front (Figure 5).


.


Figure 5. Climatic conditions in Rio Grande do Sul on 02/05/2024[INMET, 2024]


Before the first warning of heavy rainfall, issued on April 29 by INMET, areas in the Rio Pardo Valley, in the central region of the state, had already been hit by heavy rain and hail since April 27. On April 28, the Civil


Vol XXXIII Issue 3 | Dam Engineering | 163


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