Brazil activated heatwave and storm alerts in several states

Published at: 26/12/2025 09:34 PM

The National Meteorological Institute (INMET) issued an orange heatwave alert throughout the Southeastern region of Brazil, in addition to sectors in the north of Paraná, east of Santa Catarina, south of Goiás and east of Mato Grosso do Sul, the Telesur website reported.

He noted that the records are more than 5º Celsius above the usual average for December; this constitutes an official episode of extreme heat.

In parallel, Rio Grande do Sul is facing an orange storm alert. Civil Defense reported damage in seven cities over the past 24 hours.

In Santa María, more than 80 millimeters of rain accumulated in eight hours, in Candelária a bridge collapsed due to a flooded river and in Passa Sete about 80 families were isolated by floods.

The heat wave also impacts large cities, such as Sao Paulo, which recorded the highest temperature for this month in 64 years on Thursday, December 25, at 35.9 Celsius. Faced with this scenario, Civil Defense maintains a warning for extreme heat until 18:00 this Friday, December 24.

In Rio de Janeiro, nearly a thousand people went to hospitals on Christmas Eve and Christmas for complications related to high temperatures.

The city council rated the city as heat level three, while the state Department of Health warned that 22 municipalities will face extreme conditions during the day. Other states in the Midwest, the Northern region and parts of Maranhão and Piauí are under yellow alert due to heavy rains.

The authorities recommended preventive measures such as hydrating frequently, avoiding alcoholic beverages, wearing light clothing, protecting yourself from the sun and reducing outdoor exposure between 10:00 and 16:00 hours, with special attention to children and older adults.