Along the swollen Taquari River, a large boat was being carried down the raging floodwaters when it rammed into a submerged bridge and capsized, according to Storyful. There is no word if anyone was on board. In the state capital of Porto Alegre, where over 10 inches of rain fell, the Guaiba River sat at 6 feet above flood stage Saturday morning, causing widespread flooding. Photos from the area show downtown streets covered in shin-deep water. City officials say three water treatment plants have failed due to flooding, and officials are urging residents to conserve water. The city’s airport in town has suspended all flights "due to high volume of rain." Meteorologists with Brazil's NIM said El Niño is partially to blame for the wet weather pattern, as the warming waters of the Pacific Ocean help block cold fronts and concentrate areas of instability over the Rio Grande do Sul area.
