Climate change fuels record February heat in Brazil ahead of Carnival

In February 2025, Brazil experienced a record heatwave where temperatures reached up to 44°C, affecting over 170 million people. The event, linked to climate change, caused significant public health strain in Rio de Janeiro, water shortages in favelas, and school delays in Rio Grande do Sul.

• Between February 14 and 20, 2025, more than 170 million people in Brazil experienced at least one day with a Climate Shift Index (CSI) level 3, indicating a very strong climate change influence, while over 127 million experienced at least one day with CSI level 5.
• The heatwave saw temperatures 3°C to 8°C above normal for mid-to-late February, with Rio de Janeiro recording its highest temperature in at least a decade on February 17, reaching 44°C.
• The extreme heat and lack of rain led to water shortages in Rio de Janeiro's neighborhoods and favelas, and caused the start of the school year to be delayed in Rio Grande do Sul due to inadequate ventilation and water supplies in classrooms.
• Public health services in Rio de Janeiro faced increased pressure, with over 3,000 people seeking emergency treatment for extreme heat in January, more than double the number of previous years.

APA

Climate Central (2025). Climate change fuels record February heat in Brazil ahead of Carnival. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/brazil-february-2025

Chicago

Climate Central. Climate change fuels record February heat in Brazil ahead of Carnival. 2025. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/brazil-february-2025.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Climate change fuels record February heat in Brazil ahead of Carnival |date=20 February 2025 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/brazil-february-2025 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2025climate, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Climate change fuels record February heat in Brazil ahead of Carnival}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/brazil-february-2025}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }