Latin America Update #13

While the death toll from the flooding in Brazil continues to climb, the rate has slowed. Right now the tally looks to be around 850 people. Heavy rains continued in parts of Brazil, while some areas did dry out. Heavy rains were also reported in Bolivia and Paraguay. Dryness in Colombia, Argentina continues.

I will be very brief, because there isn't much new information. Rainfall continues to pour down heavily in parts of Brazil. The states that were hit this week include: Pará , Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso du Sul. Heavy rainfall also came down in Bolivia, especially the north central areas, and Paraguay. Bolivia was particularly hard hit just south of the lakes region, near Trinidad. Much of southeastern Brazil was dry this past week, allowing Minas Gerias (including the Brasilia area), Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo a chance to dry out. Most of this weeks heavy rainfall did not fall in basins that are up stream from the big cities in Brazil, lowering the chance of a flooding event similar to what is currently occurring in southern Africa.

Colombia, Peru and Argentina remained dry this week. This on going trend is almost certainly having impacts on the ground with poor pasture for livestock and insufficient rainfall for crops.