RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – September arrives, and the feeling of dry weather increases significantly in Goiás state. Cities in the state, including Goiânia, have registered in the last few days the lowest relative humidity rates in Brazil, according to data from the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet).
The indexes have already fallen below 12%, which is the limit used for issuing a red alert and classifying great danger. Under these conditions, the possibility of forest fires and damage to health increases, requiring certain precautions to be taken by the population (see below).
On Tuesday (9/7), of the 20 Brazilian cities with the lowest air humidity rates, 11 were from Goiás. In the lead was Alto Paraíso de Goiás, with 8%, followed by Caiapônia, Edeia, Goiânia, Goiás City, Luziânia, Pires do Rio, Silvania, and São Simão, with 11%.
In Alto Paraíso, according to the head of Inmet in Goiás and Tocantins, Elizabete Alves Ferreira, the sensor has a technical problem, which affects the reliability of the data issued. In any case, even removing the city from the ranking, Goiás points remain in the lead.
Regarding cities in other states, Costa Rica and Três Lagoas, in Mato Grosso do Sul, Gama (DF), and Votuporanga (SP) are in the same situation, also with recent records of humidity at 11%.
BRAZILIAN CAPITALS
Goiânia, with its 11% humidity on Tuesday and forecast of 10% on Wednesday (9/8), had the lowest humidity index among all the state capitals in Brazil, including Brasilia. On Tuesday, the city recorded its highest temperature of the year so far, at 38.7ºC. On Wednesday, the maximum temperature was 37.9ºC.
“This is part of our climatology. September tends to be the warmest and driest month. Some years stand out in terms of temperature records, and, in recent years, this has occurred between September and early October, with humidity of around 10%. Goiânia itself has already reached 8%, the lowest level in history. From 2000 on, this has been more frequent,” explains Alves.
The situation should continue until next week, according to her, due to a mass of heat and dry air that reaches the state. “Even during the night, the humidity is low. We have already dawned, for example, with humidity around 40%, while the normal would be 80%,” explains the head of Inmet.
RETURN OF THE RAINS
The forecast for the return of the rains in Goiás – which has suffered, since June, with forest fires in preservation areas and the reduction of the water capacity in rivers and reservoirs – is from the second half of October on. Until then, according to Alves, precipitation should be isolated.
Near Goiânia, the Altamiro de Moura Pacheco State Park (Peamp) has suffered from an area of 365 hectares affected by fire in recent days. In the Chapada dos Veadeiros, fires continue to be reported in places close to the national park.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH
While the situation does not improve, the ideal thing for the population is to take care of their health to avoid respiratory problems, nose bleeds, and irritation in the eyes. Among Inmet’s recommendations are:
– Drink plenty of liquids, principally water;
– Heavy physical activities are harmful in these dry weather conditions;
– Avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day;
– Use a moisturizer for the skin and humidify the environment;
– Avoid diuretic drinks, such as coffee and alcohol;
– Get more information from the Civil Defense (199) and the Fire Department (193).