New Heat Wave Hits Brazil, With Temperatures Up to 42°C
Listen to the story
A new heat wave began in Brazil on Wednesday, August 12, bringing very hot and dry weather.
In Brazilian weather reports, this kind of short hot period is called a "veranico," which means "little summer."
It usually happens outside the normal summer season and brings unusually high temperatures.
This time, the heat is affecting the Central-West, North, and Northeast regions of Brazil.
In some cities, temperatures could reach as high as 42°C this week.
Weather experts say many cities will have hot, dry days starting from Wednesday.
However, the weather situation is very different across the rest of the country.
While some regions are experiencing extreme heat, others will face strong storms, called "temporais" in Portuguese.
At the same time, certain areas are expected to have frost, which forms when temperatures drop very low.
This means Brazil is seeing three very different kinds of weather at once: extreme heat, storms, and frost.
Such contrasts are common in a large country like Brazil, where climate can vary greatly by region.
Meteorologists have released a detailed forecast for each region so people can prepare for the week ahead.
Experts recommend that people in hot areas drink plenty of water and avoid strong sun during the hottest hours.
In regions with storms or frost, people are advised to stay updated with local weather warnings.
Vocabulary10 words
- heat wave
- a period of many very hot days
- veranico
- a short hot, dry period outside summer; means "little summer"
- Central-West
- a region in the middle part of Brazil
- regions
- large areas within a country
- storms
- weather with strong wind, rain, or thunder
- frost
- a thin layer of ice that forms in very cold weather
- forecast
- a report about expected future weather
- meteorologists
- scientists who study and predict weather
- contrasts
- big differences between things
- climate
- the usual weather pattern of a place
Quiz
Answer key
1. Little summer 2. Central-West, North, and Northeast 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A new _____ began in Brazil on Wednesday, August 12, bringing very hot and dry weather.
In Brazilian weather reports, this kind of short hot period is called a _____, which means "little summer."
This time, the heat is affecting the _____, North, and Northeast regions of Brazil.
In some cities, temperatures could reach as high as _____ this week.
However, the weather situation is very different across the rest of the _____.
While some regions are experiencing extreme heat, others will face strong _____, called "temporais" in Portuguese.
At the same time, certain areas are expected to have _____, which forms when temperatures drop very low.
This means Brazil is seeing three very different kinds of weather at once: extreme heat, storms, and _____.
Meteorologists have released a detailed _____ for each region so people can prepare for the week ahead.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever experienced sudden extreme heat like this in your country? What was it like?
- Why do you think weather can be so different across regions of the same country?
- What safety tips would you give to people during a heat wave?
- Do you think events like this are becoming more common? Why or why not?