Brazil Registers Coldest Period in Last Four Years, Says National Meteorological Institute

07/20/2017 - 10h26

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FROM SÃO PAULO

Brazil hasn't gone through a cold period this severe since 2013, according to Inmet (National Meteorological Institute). On Wednesday (the 19th), the lowest temperature in the county, -7,4°C (18.7°F), was recorded in the city of Bom Jardim da Serra in the state of Santa Catarina

During the last several days the country has been experiencing below zero temperatures in the southern region, a chill in the Amazon and unusual drops in temperature in regions that are typically hot like the Northeast and Central-West.

According to the Institute, the strong winter arrived this year because the country hasn't started experiencing the effects of El Niño so far.

The phenomenon, which is caused by abnormal warming of waters in the Pacific Ocean, has had the effect of diminished the entrance of cold fronts and polar air masses into the country during the greater part of the last four years.

For the Institute, El Niño had the greatest effect on weather conditions in Brazil between November of 2014 and April of 2016.

According to Ingrid Peixoto, an Inmet meteorologist, the country recently passed through periods of record high temperatures and extreme dryness due to El Niño.

"Now, it's as if Brazil is going through a winter with the real face of winter without any interference, which makes the season more defined", the meteorologist explained.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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