Warning is valid until Friday and predicts temperatures at least 5 °C above average; Extreme weather can bring health risks, such as dehydration, thermal exhaustion and worsening of cardiovascular diseases
The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) issued an orange warning — which indicates danger — for a heat wave that is hitting eight states in the country. The alert began last Tuesday (23) and remains valid until 6pm on Friday (26). The warning covers all states in the Southeast region and areas in the north of Paraná, the extreme east of Santa Catarina, the south of Goiás and the east of Mato Grosso do Sul. According to Inmet, temperatures must remain at least 5 °C above average for a minimum period of five days, a condition that characterizes a heat wave.
The extreme heat has already caused historic records. This Thursday (25), Christmas Day, the city of São Paulo recorded 35.9 °C, the highest temperature ever measured for the month of December since the beginning of the historical series consolidated by Inmet, in 1961. The previous record was 35.6 °C, recorded on December 3, 1998.
In Rio de Janeiro, thermometers reached 41 °C. Given the scenario, the city hall placed the capital at heat level 3, on a scale that goes up to 5. According to the Strategic Health Surveillance Information Center (Cievs), all 92 municipalities in Rio de Janeiro are under warning, and 22 cities face excess heat classified as mild, severe or extreme.
According to meteorologists, the phenomenon is caused by the action of a mass of hot, dry air, reinforced by the South Atlantic Subtropical High. This system acts as an atmospheric blockage, making it difficult for cold fronts and more organized rain to form and advance.
The forecast indicates that the intense heat is expected to persist at least until next Sunday (28), with very hot afternoons and stuffy mornings. In the Southeast, the most affected areas are the interior of São Paulo, the Triângulo Mineiro and the south of Minas Gerais. In the Central-West, the weather remains hot, with isolated rain showers typical of summer.
In the South, especially between Santa Catarina and Paraná, the most critical period occurs until Christmas. From the next few days onwards, the trend is for temperatures to gradually decrease, with the return of rain. In the North and Northeast, which are not under the direct influence of the heat wave, the heat is mainly concentrated inland, while the coast has milder temperatures due to oceanic ventilation.
Inmet warns that extreme heat can pose health risks, such as dehydration, thermal exhaustion and worsening of cardiovascular diseases, and recommends extra attention, frequent hydration and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun during the hottest times of the day.
