A new heat wave is about to hit the Center-South of Brazil, bringing extremely high temperatures. According to the meteorological company MetSul, a mass of very hot air is moving from the north of Argentina and Paraguay towards the southern, southeastern and central-western states of the country.
According to MetSul, thermometers must register marks close to or above 40ºC.
In Rio Grande do Sul, intense heat is expected to set in from the second half of this week and remain until the following Monday. The capital, Porto Alegre, will be highlighted on Sunday, with a minimum of 24ºC and a maximum of 37ºC, according to Climatempo. The afternoons will be especially hot, with showers possible.
MetSul warns that the Greater Porto Alegre region and the valleys may record temperatures between 37ºC and 39ºC in several municipalities, with locally even higher maximums. In the Central-West, where the summer is usually rainy and the hottest days occur at the end of winter and spring, temperatures will also be surprising for this time of year.
According to MetSul, especially in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, the climate will be as hot as in the spring period, when thermometers close to 40ºC are normal. In Cuiabá (MS), for example, Climatempo’s forecast for Friday is a minimum of 24ºC and a maximum of 38ºC.
The change in the weather pattern will also affect the interior of the state of São Paulo, as highlighted by MetSul. Normally, this region records a lot of rain at this time of year, which prevents temperatures from reaching very high levels. However, this year will be different.
On Friday, minimums of 23ºC and maximums of 36ºC are expected in cities such as São José do Rio Preto, Bauru and Araraquara, all with the possibility of rain showers. In the capital of São Paulo, the temperature will be hot, but a little lower compared to other locations. Climatempo’s forecast indicates that there will also be rain in the city.
Furthermore, other regions of the country will also feel the effects of this heat wave. In Rio de Janeiro, the highest temperature is expected for Friday, varying between 23ºC and 37ºC, with no rain expected to alleviate the intense heat. In Belo Horizonte, the thermal variation will be from 19ºC to 33ºC. In Vitória, Espírito Santo, thermometers will be between 22ºC and 33ºC.
This intense heat wave is related to the El Niño phenomenon, which is stronger this season and is expected to peak at the end of the year, according to a report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in November.
Global warming is also a factor that has contributed to the intensification of El Niño and its effects, such as the high temperatures and extreme weather events recorded in Brazil throughout the year.
