Brazil, on Sunday, reported the hottest weather ever, with temperatures soaring to 44.8 deg. C. The temperature was recorded in the town of Araçuaí, in Brazil's south-eastern state of Minas Gerais. The heatwave has been linked to the El Nino phenomenon and global warming.
Increased energy consumption has been reported in Brazil as people try to cope with the extreme weather. Red alerts have been declared in several parts of Brazil. On November 19, a Taylor Swift fan died owing to high temperature in Rio de Janeiro. Post this, Swift cancelled the concert.
According to the National Institute of Meteorology, the highest temperature in Brazil was recorded in 2005, at 44.7 deg. C. On average, temperatures soar between July and October in Brazil. The high temperatures have been persisting for a week.
The high temperatures caused by high-pressure ridges are similar to what the US faced this summer. Global warming has caused heat waves to become more intense and increased their frequencies.
According to the World Weather Attribution Network, the temperature could have been lower by at least 1.5- 2 deg. C if humans have reduced consumption of fossil fuels and emitting carbon pollution.
According to the non-profit Climate Central, the last twelve months have been the hottest in modern history. According to an AP report, the El Nino has caused drought in northern parts of Brazil, as Amazon waterways have dried up and fires have been burning in parts of the country’s tropical wetlands.