Heat Wave Brings Dry Air and High Temperatures to Brazil
Listen to the story
Brazil is experiencing strong heat and dry air today, and the country's weather agency, Inmet, is monitoring a possible heat wave in several regions.
The heat wave could affect the Centro-Oeste, North, and Southeast regions of Brazil. São Paulo, along with 12 other states, will experience this weather pattern known as a veranico.
A veranico is a period of unusually hot, dry weather that appears during a normally cooler season. This one is expected to last until next Wednesday, the 19th.
During this time, the veranico is spreading heat across large parts of the country. Temperatures could reach as high as 42°C in some places.
Inmet, which stands for the National Institute of Meteorology, is responsible for tracking weather conditions across Brazil and issuing warnings when necessary.
Dry air combined with high temperatures can create health risks, especially for people who are more sensitive to heat, such as children and older adults.
Experts often advise people to stay hydrated and avoid too much time outdoors during periods of extreme heat like this one.
Although the exact cause of this specific veranico has not been detailed, such weather patterns are common in Brazil and can affect multiple regions at once, sometimes lasting several days before conditions change.
Vocabulary10 words
- dry air
- air that has very little water in it
- heat wave
- a period of many days with very high temperatures
- weather pattern
- a repeated way weather behaves over an area
- veranico
- a short spell of summer-like heat during a cooler season
- 42°C
- a very high temperature reading in Celsius degrees
- National Institute of Meteorology
- the official government agency for weather in Brazil
- health risks
- possible dangers to a person's body or well-being
- hydrated
- having enough water in the body
- region
- a large geographic area within a country
- conditions
- the state of something, like the weather
Quiz
Answer key
1. A short period of unusual heat in a cooler season 2. Centro-Oeste, North, and Southeast 3. Next Wednesday, the 19th
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Brazil is experiencing strong heat and _____ today, and the country's weather agency, Inmet, is monitoring a possible _____ in several regions.
The heat wave could affect the Centro-Oeste, North, and Southeast regions of Brazil. São Paulo, along with 12 other _____, will experience this weather pattern known as a _____.
A veranico is a period of unusually hot, dry weather that appears during a normally cooler season. This one is expected to last until next _____, the 19th.
During this time, the veranico is spreading heat across large parts of the country. Temperatures could reach as high as _____ in some places.
_____, which stands for the National Institute of Meteorology, is responsible for tracking weather conditions across Brazil and issuing warnings when necessary.
Dry air combined with high temperatures can create _____, especially for people who are more sensitive to heat, such as children and older adults.
Experts often advise people to stay _____ and avoid too much time outdoors during periods of extreme heat like this one.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever experienced a sudden period of unusual heat like a veranico? What was it like?
- Why do you think heat waves can be dangerous for certain groups of people?
- What steps can people take to stay safe during extreme heat events?
- Do you think weather agencies like Inmet play an important role in public safety? Why or why not?