An unusual heatwave, still for areas with a tropical climate, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, is now affecting Rio de Janeiro residents and tourists visiting the city shortly before its famous carnival.

At noon local time, the Metropolis of 6 million inhabitants first touched the fourth tier, out of a total of 5, of the heatwave alarm, as the municipal authorities have set them.

According to this system that came into force last June- and based on temperature level and moisture rate, the 4th grade is characterized by a “very high temperature index”, from 40-44 degrees Celsius, which is expected to be maintained “for” for “for” At least three consecutive days. “

According to the Municipal Authority’s protocol, authorities must allocate for citizens with air conditioning rooms and install water distribution stations.

The state of Sao Paulo, south of Rio, was also on alert due to the first wave of heat of the year, with mercury approaching 38 degrees Celsius.

The temperature record for February in Rio is 41.8 degrees Celsius and was recorded in 2023, according to Rakel Franco, a meteorologist of the Municipal Authority’s “Alerta Rio” system.

“We spent another week without rain and forecasts for late February do not report much rainfall. We could have one of the drier February in History »she stressed herself.

Many Brazilian areas are affected by a wave of heat and the beaches were crowded this weekend in Rio, especially in Copacabana, where one of the most famous Carnival Saba Schools, Beija-Flor, canceled her rehearsal of her parade, scheduled for yesterday.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Pae ruled out yesterday the possibility of canceling the Carnival events (February 28-March 8th), which attract hundreds of thousands of tourists and offering millions of dollars to the economy.

In Copacabana, the concierge Robson Oliveira took a photo of a public sign, showing the temperature of 39 degrees Celsius. “It’s really too hot, it’s unbearable. It has to rain to cool for a while, “he told the French agency.

The situation is particularly alarming in favelas. In Bato Mousse, in west Rio, residents were trying to cool off with the help of garden tires, and an AFP journalist saw an elderly man fainted because of the heat.