Heat wave: see updated map of affected regions

A new wave of suffocating heat begins to raise temperatures in Brazil from this Thursday (14).

According to Climatempo spokesperson Maria Calar Sassaki, the heat wave occurs over a period of at least five days, in which maximum temperatures are around 5°C above average. “In São Paulo, for example, the December average is 28°C. Now, we have a forecast of 33°C.”

Climatempo produced a map to explain the affected regions, with divisions into two areas.

• Red: temperatures more than 5°C above average
• Orange: temperatures between 3°C and 5°C above average

See the difference between the maps:

On the first map, the red region was much smaller. Now, the forecast has changed and shows that almost all Brazilian states will feel the phenomenon.

Previously, the red region covered the entire state of Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás, as well as part of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Tocantins and Mato Grosso.

Now, the red region also covers all states in the southern region and part of Rondônia.

The expert explains that the region in red has expanded because the fronts that will pass along the Brazilian coast will be weaker than previously predicted, which causes the temperature to rise.

“The next cold fronts will be more coastal and weak, they cannot bring moisture to Rio Grande do Sul. As a result, the hot winds from the northern quadrant become more intense and increase the magnitude of temperatures”, explains Sassaki.