Setting a new heatwave record, Brazil on Sunday recorded a heat index hitting 62.3 degrees Celsius, the highest in the last 10 years, weather authorities said.
Capital Rio de Janeiro’s heat index measures what a temperature feels like, which also includes humidity. The actual maximum temperature in the city was settled near 42 degrees Celsius on Monday, the Alerta Rio weather system mentioned.
The 62.3 degrees Celsius temperature record was recorded at 9:55 am local time and was the highest since Alerta Rio began such measurement in 2014.
On Saturday, the heat index in the west of the city clocked 60.1 degrees Celsius maximum. Previously in November 2023, the previous heat index record was settled at 59.7C (139.5F).
Heat conditions to continue
Meanwhile, the local weather authorities have predicted extreme rains to continue in the south of the country next week.
“The week will be of very high risk in the center-south of Brazil due to intense rains and storms. The most worrisome system is a very intense cold front that will arrive with torrential rains and possible gales,” the weather information agency MetSul warned.