2023 South America heat wave

Between July and September 2023, a heat wave hit South America, leading to temperatures in many areas above 95 °F (35 °C) in midwinter, often 40–45 °F (22–25 °C) degrees above typical. The heat wave was especially severe in northern Argentina and Chile, along neighboring areas in and around the Andes Mountains. Some locations set all-time heat records.[1] Several states also had the hottest September temperatures in history, often reaching more than 40°C.[2]

In mid-July, Brazil began experiencing elevated temperatures. During the third week of the month, locations in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay set records for July temperatures. There was a heat dome above Paraguay associated with the unusual weather,[1] which was also exacerbated by El Niño and global warming.[3]

Weather historian Maximiliano Herrera stated that "South America is living one of the extreme events the world has ever seen" and "This event is rewriting all climatic books".[1]

On 12 August 2023, Buenos Aires broke a 117 year heat record. Chile saw highs towards 40 °C and Bolivia saw unseasonably high temperatures, while Asunción saw 33 °C.[4]

A heat wave in Brazil started in central and western regions on November 7, when temperatures reached 42 °C in Mato Grosso do Sul.[5] Over the next few days, it grew in size and intensity, affecting all regions of Brazil, especially the central and central regions: West, Northeast and Southeast.[6]

Mato Grosso do Sul and Minas Gerais have recorded the highest temperatures during the heat wave. The temperatures in both states have exceeded 43 °C for many consecutive days, mainly between November 12 and 19, 2023. The highest temperature observed in the city of Araçuaí[7] in the Vale do Jequitinhonha of Minas Gerais on the 19th was 44.8 °C, which was the highest temperature in Brazil recorded by INMET.[8][9]

Brazil experienced three other severe heat waves in August, September, and October, but in November the heat wave was more comprehensive and intense and was determined by MetSul Meteorologia to be the worst in Brazilian history.[5][10][11]

Impact

[edit]

On November 17, 2023, around a thousand people fainted during a show of American singer Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour, held at the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro.[12] Student Ana Clara Benevides Machado suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest and died during the concert.[13][14] On November 18, the Eras Tour concert scheduled for that night was postponed until November 20.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Livingston, Ian (2 August 2023). "It's midwinter, but it's over 100 degrees in South America". Washington Post. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  2. ^ Extreme heat scorches large parts of South America as winter ends. CNN, 25 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Winter heat wave in Chile offers 'window' to warmer world". Reuters. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ^ Phillips, Tom; Goñi, Uki; Grace, Matthew (August 3, 2023). "'Winter is disappearing': South America hit by 'brutal' unseasonal heatwave". The Guardian.
  5. ^ a b "Brasil terá onda de calor incomum e uma das mais intensas da história". MetSul Meteorologia (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  6. ^ "Onda de calor pode durar até duas semanas, provocar temperaturas de até 45 °C e vários recordes em boa parte do Brasil". Tempo.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  7. ^ "Calor de 44,8 °C: Araçuaí (MG) tem o dia mais quente no histórico de medições do Brasil, diz Inmet". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  8. ^ "INMET :: Tempo". tempo.inmet.gov.br. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  9. ^ @inmet_ (November 20, 2023). "🥵 #Calor: Araçuaí (MG) teve a maior temperatura já registrada no Brasil, até o momento❗ 🌡️ De acordo com as estações meteorológicas do #INMET, nesse domingo (19), o município registrou 44,8°C" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-11-26 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Climatempo (2023-10-11). "Brasil enfrenta nova onda de calor em 2023 e muito forte | Climatempo". www.climatempo.com.br. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  11. ^ "O mapa do clima no Brasil que espanta os cientistas no mundo". MetSul Meteorologia (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  12. ^ "Calor mata? Entenda caso de fã que morreu após passar mal em show | Metrópoles". www.metropoles.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  13. ^ "Taylor Swift 'devastated' as fan dies before show". BBC News. 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  14. ^ Madarang, Charisma (2023-11-18). "Taylor Swift 'Devastated' After Fan Dies Before Show in Brazil". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  15. ^ TAYLOR SWIFT POSTPONED ERAS TOUR CONCERT FOLLOWING DEATH OF FAN, Grazia Magazine, November 20, 2023
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