# Brazil faces an unprecedented heatwave attributed to El Niño and climate change that is expected to persist until Friday. Red alerts have been issued to nearly three-thousand towns and cities. Some areas, including Rio de Janeiro, saw temperatures soar to 52 degrees Celsius this week. Sao Paulo recorded an average of 37 degrees. Red alerts indicate temperatures five degrees above average for over five days, posing a serious health risk. Authorities have observed record-high energy consumption as citizens attempt to cope with the premature onset of summer in the southern hemisphere.
Brazil faces unprecedented heatwave