A heat wave is expected to push temperatures as high as 47°C in at least five Brazilian states this weekend, according to a forecast by the Meteored weather service released on Thursday (27). In São Paulo, the state Civil Defense agency issued an alert for Friday (28) through Monday (31), with highs near 40°C in the interior of the state.
The peak of the heat is expected on Sunday (30), when a wide area between Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, in Brazil's Center-West farm belt, should see highs of 46°C to 47°C, Meteored said. Over the same period, northern Paraná, northern and western São Paulo state and the Triângulo Mineiro region, in western Minas Gerais, could reach 45°C.
Alert in São Paulo
In São Paulo state, the most severe conditions are forecast for the northern and northwestern regions, where relative humidity could fall below 12% in the afternoons, Civil Defense reported. In the rest of the state, forecasts point to temperatures between 30°C and 35°C with humidity at or below 20%, a combination the agency says will bring intense thermal discomfort and dry out the environment.
The state Civil Defense coordinator, Colonel Rinaldo de Araujo Monteiro, is set to meet with municipal representatives to present the weather outlook and coordinate preventive measures. The agency warned that parched vegetation at the height of the dry season raises the chance of wildfires and lets flames spread quickly, especially in rural areas. It advised residents not to use fire to clear land, not to burn trash and not to throw cigarette butts along highways or near vegetation. Anyone who spots smoke or the start of a fire should call 193 (fire department) or 199 (Civil Defense).
Beyond the heat, much of Brazil is recording very low relative humidity, and the mix of dry air and high temperatures should raise the heat index in several regions, according to the forecast. São Paulo's Civil Defense recommends special care for children, the elderly and animals, frequent hydration, ventilated and humidified rooms, and less sun exposure and physical exercise during the hottest hours.
The episode arrives at the end of the southern winter, when the Center-West and the interior of the Southeast have gone months without significant rain and fire risk reaches its yearly high. Climate projections indicate that extreme heat events like this one are set to become more frequent and intense as the planet warms, adding pressure on governments to adapt health and fire prevention protocols.