Clockwise from top: Aerial view of the damage caused by the Rio Bonito do Iguaçu tornado; A stadium partially destroyed by an F2 tornado; Piles of rubble after destruction caused by the Rio Bonito tornado; The aftermath of a church after being totally destroyed by a second F4 from the same day as Rio Bonito do Iguaçu tornado; A sugarcane field partially damaged by a tornado in Mombuca.
Note: 17 tornadoes have been confirmed but not yet rated
Some tornadoes may be rated using the EF-scale because countries like Brazil (mostly São Paulo), Chile or Paraguay use partially or unofficially the Enhanced Fujita scale to rate some tornadoes more efficiently, however, to maintain consistency, this article primarily uses the traditional Fujita scale on the total count. In other cases of tornadoes rated using the EF-scale, their equivalent or the Fujita scale will be used instead.
Most South American tornadoes outside Brazil may lack information due to scarce or unreliable sources, even official confirmation, and some tornadoes may not be added to the list due to lack of information.
Similar to North America or Europe, South America also experiences a few tornadoes per year, Brazil being one of the countries with the highest incidence of tornadoes outside the regions traditionally known for such phenomena. According to a survey by the State University of Ponta Grossa (UEPG), between 1975 and 2018, a total of 581 tornadoes were recorded in the country, 411 of which occurred in the Southern Region, accounting for approximately 70% of all cases.
In 2018, the PREVOTS platform was established to document severe weather events across Brazil. Upon completing five years of operation, a report indicated that between June 2018 and June 2023, 321 damage incidents caused by tornadoes were recorded, including waterspouts.[2]
Most tornadoes in Brazil are associated with high-precipitation supercells, resulting in rain-wrapped tornadoes that are difficult to see.
The annual average number of tornadoes in Brazil remains uncertain due to the country's less robust meteorological infrastructure compared to nations like the United States or Canada, and because of the low population density in the most tornado-prone areas. These factors contribute to underreporting, with many tornadoes being identified only months or even years after they occur. Recent estimates suggest a plausible average of 50 to 60 tornadoes per year, although this figure lacks official confirmation due to the aforementioned limitations.
Season summary
All severe weather documented during September to November (preliminary)All severe weather documented during December (preliminary)
The year started slowly, during January to April, little to no tornadoes were documented, mostly being weak and short-lived tornadoes/waterspouts ranging from FU to F0, with one F1 documented.
During May to September, two small tornado outbreaks would happen, some F0-F1 tornadoes and only two E/F2 tornadoes would occur.
During November to December, two outbreaks would happen from extratropical cyclones, bringing mostly severe weather to Brazil, and barely for Argentina and Uruguay, with two violent and moderate tornadoes and various F1 tornadoes documented in Brazil.
A waterspout struck Guaíba, in Rio Grande do Sul. It occurred during a severe weather event with strong winds; at least two waterspouts were recorded.[6]
A tornado classified as F2 by Prevots struck Erval Grande, also in Rio Grande do Sul. Many properties were affected and damaged, with trees and power lines downed.[6]
1 death — A tornado struck Palmitos on Santa Catarina, damaging more than 50 rural properties and downing trees, resulting in the fatality of a man and 65 displaced people. The phenomenon lasted 20 minutes.[6][10]
A tornado struck Santo Amaro da Imperatriz, where homes were damaged, including a mixed-wood and masonry residence that suffered serious damage. Trees were downed and one fatality was confirmed.[6]
May 25
List of confirmed tornadoes - Sunday, May 25 2025[3]
A tornado (FU) struck Lajeado Grande, in Santa Catarina. It was said to be the beginning of a tornado, but confirmed as a tornado by Civil Defense and Prevots.[6]
June 22
List of confirmed tornadoes - Sunday, June 22 2025[3]
In the early morning of the 23rd, a strong tornado struck Passos Maia. Trees were uprooted or cut and thrown several meters. Power poles were snapped and toppled. Warehouses were completely destroyed. According to Prevots, the tornado was classified as EF2/F2. However, in some parts of its path, damage consistent with intensities above EF2 was observed.[6]
A tornado struck the town of Soledad, Colombia, damaging over 700 homes across 10 neighborhoods. Eleven people were injured and received medical attention. Mayor Alcira Sandoval declared a state of public calamity to coordinate emergency response and humanitarian aid.[14][15]
Landspout with winds over 70 km/h (43 mph) registered by local residents crossing the rural areas of San Luis, Argentina, beginning the September 2025 tornado outbreak that occurred on Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.[16]
Another tornado touched down and struck Porto Feliz where a Toyota plant suffered extensive damages, injuring 30 workers. The tornado was preliminary rated EF2+ by PREVOTS.[21]
A tornado struck the municipality of Itaiópolis, in Santa Catarina. Eucalyptus trees were damaged, and homes in Itápolis suffered moderate to significant damage, with no deaths or injuries were reported.[6][22]
November 7
List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, November 7, 2025[23][24][25]
6 deaths (1 indirectly) – A destructive tornado devasted the municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, injuring 835 people and causing devastating widespread damage. The tornado affected 90% of the structures, devasting schools, supermarkets and churches. With a total of 1,000 people displaced and 4,000 affected directly or indirectly by the tornado. Caused by an interaction between a mass of warm, humid air coming from the north of the country and a strong cold front advancing through the south, driven by an extratropical cyclone. The atmospheric conditions favored the formation of a supercell. See the full article
1 death – Formed from the same supercell as the Rio Bonito do Iguaçu tornado. The tornado devasted 80% of local vegetation, including extreme sweeping of dense hardwood trees found in two points along the tornado's path, ground scouring was also noted. The tornado also hurled a commercial container 165 m (180 yd) and damaged significantly a well reinforced mansion.[23]
Tornado registered and recorded by residents in rural areas of Guarapuava and Candói, stayed mostly in rural areas, impacted various structures in Turvo.
Another nighttime tornado struck the city's rural area and was confirmed by PREVOTS in 2026. Significant damage to the root system of a young sugarcane field suggests an F1 tornado.[6][29]
December 8
List of confirmed tornadoes - Monday, December 8 2025[3]
A significant tornado struck the municipality of Flores da Cunha, in Rio Grande do Sul. Houses had their roofs torn off, trees were uprooted, more than 20 vineyards were destroyed, and the city's cafeteria and hospital were damaged. No one was injured. Classified as low-end F2.[6][30]
December 12
List of confirmed tornadoes - Friday, December 12 2025[3]
A tornado struck the municipality of Teodoro Sampaio, in São Paulo. It lasted a short time and only caused damage to the city's cemetery, breaking or uprooting trees. Damage suggests an F0 and F1 tornado.[6][31]
December 21
List of confirmed tornadoes - Sunday, December 21 2025[3]
A brief and weak tornado formed on Santa Rita in Paraguay and caused minor damages to rural structures, rated as F1 by Dirección de Meteorología e Hidrología (DMH).[32]
December 28
List of confirmed tornadoes - Sunday, December 28 2025[3]
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy"PREVOTS" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 27, 2026. Cite error: The named reference "PREVOTS" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
