Brazil Extends Top Heat Alert to Tuesday as Storm Pattern Emerges

Overview

• Inmet prolonged the red alert for extreme heat through Tuesday for parts of six states, covering 1,284 municipalities across the Southeast and Center‑West.
• São Paulo set a December record of 37.2°C at Mirante de Santana, while interior cities such as Pedro de Toledo reached 42°C as late‑December highs topped norms by up to 7.8°C. Climatempo and MetSul say rain bands and fronts are organizing as the block loses strength, bringing daily temporals to the South and spreading storms into São Paulo, Rio, Minas and neighboring areas.
• Authorities activated contingency steps, including São Paulo’s crisis cabinet and calls to cut water use after reservoir levels fell to 26.2%, alongside public‑health guidance to hydrate and keep cool.
• Health services reported heavy demand during the heat wave, with Rio averaging about 450 daily attendances, while forecasts keep Rio’s highs near 35–38°C before broader relief later in the week.