A severe storm hit the Grande Florianópolis area on Friday, May 9, 2025, bringing with it heavy rain, hail, and strong winds that disrupted daily life and caused significant power outages. The storm's intensity peaked around 8 PM, prompting the local Civil Defense to issue a warning to residents.
At approximately 8:06 PM, residents received an alert on their cell phones from the Civil Defense. The message warned of a "severe storm with gale-force winds and hail in the next hour. Seek shelter away from trees, signs, and power poles." This notification came just as strong winds were already being felt in Florianópolis, setting the stage for the tumultuous weather to follow.
By 8:30 PM, the storm had unleashed its fury, leading to heavy rainfall and reports of hail across the region. The Celesc (Centrais Elétricas de Santa Catarina) monitoring panel indicated that there were over 10,500 power outages in Florianópolis at this time. The situation was dire, as many residents were left in the dark, particularly in the city center where 2,538 consumer units were affected.
In the Morro da Cruz area, the storm caused a transformer on a power pole to explode, adding to the chaos. The power outages were not limited to the city center; neighborhoods like Córrego Grande and Itacorubi also faced significant disruptions, with a total of 1,150 units without electricity.
Pedro Neves, the subsecretary of Protection and Civil Defense, provided an update around 8:50 PM, stating that the heavy rain was beginning to decrease. He noted that the worst of the storm had passed, with the rain now concentrating in specific neighborhoods such as Centro, Estreito, João Paulo, Santo Antônio de Lisboa, and the southern part of the island. Neves assured residents that the volume of rain was expected to lessen in the coming hours.
Despite the storm's severity, the damage reported was relatively minimal. By 9 PM, four incidents had been registered in the capital, including two fallen trees, a power outage in Lagoa da Conceição, and a bus stop that had collapsed in the Coqueiros neighborhood. Fortunately, no significant injuries or structural damages were reported.
In Palhoça, another city within the Grande Florianópolis area, hail was recorded around 7 PM, yet officials reported no major damage from the storm. The heavy rain began to subside around 8:30 PM, providing some relief to the residents.
As the storm continued to affect the region, the Civil Defense maintained its alert status, cautioning residents about the potential for further severe weather. The forecast had initially predicted intense storms for the day, highlighting the risk of lightning, strong gusts of wind, and hail precipitation, particularly in the Grande Oeste area, which had previously experienced a micro-explosion resulting in two fatalities.
By 9:12 PM, the Celesc reported that the number of power outages had decreased significantly, with only 2,316 units still affected. To expedite the restoration of power, 16 teams from Celesc were deployed to address the outages across the region.
In the municipality of Alfredo Wagner, located in the Grande Florianópolis area, the storm caused a complete power outage due to an issue with the transmission line serving the city. Fortunately, this situation was quickly resolved, and power was restored shortly after.
The storm's impact on the community was palpable, with residents sharing videos and images of the aftermath on social media. The local government and emergency services worked diligently to assess the damage and restore normalcy.
As the night progressed, the Civil Defense continued to monitor the weather conditions, advising residents to remain vigilant. The agency assured the public that while the immediate threat had passed, light rain might continue for a few hours, and they should remain prepared for any potential weather changes.
In summary, the severe storm that swept through Grande Florianópolis on May 9, 2025, served as a stark reminder of the power of nature and the importance of community preparedness in the face of unpredictable weather events. With timely alerts and coordinated responses, the region managed to navigate through the storm with minimal disruption, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity.