Brazil Extends Maximum Heat Alert to Tuesday as Storm Threat Grows

Overview

• Inmet expanded the red, highest-level heat warning to 1,284 municipalities and extended it through Tuesday, covering all of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro as well as parts of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul.
• São Paulo set a new December record of 37.2 °C at the Mirante de Santana station, while interior towns such as Pedro de Toledo, Miracatu and Itaóca topped 40 °C.
• Climatempo and MetSul report the heat-maintaining atmospheric block is weakening, allowing fronts and moisture to organize more widespread storms across the South and advancing into the Southeast and Center-West.
• Rio de Janeiro remains one of the hottest spots, with the city in stage 3 heat alert and about 450 daily heat-related medical attendances reported by municipal health authorities.
• Emergency agencies warn of heavy rain, strong winds and possible hail with risks of flooding and landslides, as São Paulo’s CGE and Cemaden flag urban flood potential and the state activates a crisis cabinet and urges water conservation.