Heat wave in southern Brazil prompts five cities to suspend classes
SAO PAULO (AP) — Five cities in southern Brazil suspended classes Thursday due to a heat wave, authorities said, as temperatures in some places rose as high as 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit).
Rio Grande, one of the five cities — all of which are in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul — said its schools were not equipped to handle the extreme heat. Classes were expected to resume on Monday.
The National Institute of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for Rio Grande do Sul and four other Brazilian states. Affected areas have experienced temperatures up to 5 degrees Celsius (9 F) above the monthly average.
Extreme weather events affected at least 1.17 million children in Brazil last year, primarily involving floods and droughts, according to a UNESCO report in January. Most were in Rio Grande do Sul, where more than 740,000 missed classes during the floods that devastated the state in May 2024.
Daniel Cara, an education policy researcher at University of Sao Paulo, said schools historically have had to close in the dry season because of wildfire dangers or a lack of water. Now, school closures due to extreme heat have become more common, he said.
'This is going to be the new normal,' he said in a telephone interview. 'Climate issues have always put pressure on the school calendar. Now, the new factor is that heat waves and the lack of air conditioning will make class cancellations a regular occurrence.'
Brazilians have endured heat waves with scorching temperatures this summer. In February, Rio de Janeiro recorded its hottest day in at least a decade, with temperatures reaching 44 degrees Celsius (111 F).
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Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The National Weather Service issues Alaska's first ever heat advisory
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — For the first time ever, parts of Alaska will be under a heat advisory — but you can put an asterisk at the end of that term. It's not the first instance of unusually high temperatures in what many consider the nation's coldest state, but the National Weather Service only recently allowed for heat advisories to be issued there. Information on similarly warm weather conditions previously came in the form of 'special weather statements." Using the heat advisory label could help people better understand the weather's severity and potential danger, something a nondescript 'special weather statement' didn't convey. The first advisory is for Sunday in Fairbanks, where temperatures are expected to top 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius). Fairbanks has has been warmer in the past, but this is unusual for June, officials said. Here's what to know about Alaska's inaugural heat advisory: Why it's the first The National Weather Service's switch from special weather statements to advisories was meant to change how the public views the information. 'This is an important statement, and the public needs to know that there will be increasing temperatures, and they could be dangerous because Alaska is not used to high temperatures like these,' said Alekya Srinivasan, a Fairbanks-based meteorologist. 'We want to make sure that we have the correct wording and the correct communication when we're telling people that it will be really hot this weekend,' she said. Not unprecedented and not climate change The change doesn't reflect unprecedented temperatures, with Fairbanks having reached 90 degrees twice in 2024, Srinivasan said. It's purely an administrative change by the weather service. 'It's not that the heat in the interior that prompted Fairbanks to issue this is record heat or anything like that. It's just now there's a product to issue,' said Rich Thoman, a climate specialist at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy. Thoman also clarified that the term swap doesn't have anything to do with climate change. 'I think some of it is related to the recognition that hot weather does have an impact on Alaska, and in the interior especially," Thoman said. Little air conditioning While the temperatures in the forecast wouldn't be considered extreme in other U.S. states, Thoman noted that most Alaska buildings don't have air conditioning. 'And just the opposite, most buildings in Alaska are designed to retain heat for most of the year," he said. People can open their windows to allow cooler air in during early morning hours — if wildfires aren't burning in blaze-prone state. But if it's smoky and the windows have to remain shut, buildings can heat up very rapidly. 'Last year was the third year in a row in Fairbanks with more than a hundred hours of visibility-reducing smoke, the first time we've ever had three consecutive years over a hundred hours,' he said. There's only been two summers in Fairbanks in the 21st century with no hours of smoke that reduced visibility, a situation he said was commonplace from the 1950s to the 1970s. What about Anchorage? The Juneau and Fairbanks weather service offices have been allowed to issue heat advisories beginning this summer, but not the office in the state's largest city of Anchorage — at least not yet. And, regardless, temperatures in the area haven't reached the threshold this year at which a heat advisory would be issued. Brian Brettschneider, a climate scientist with the weather service, said by email that the Anchorage office is working on a plan to issue such advisories in the future.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
The National Weather Service issues Alaska's first ever heat advisory
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — For the first time ever, parts of Alaska will be under a heat advisory — but you can put an asterisk at the end of that term. It's not the first instance of unusually high temperatures in what many consider the nation's coldest state, but the National Weather Service only recently allowed for heat advisories to be issued there. Information on similarly warm weather conditions previously came in the form of 'special weather statements." Using the heat advisory label could help people better understand the weather's severity and potential danger, something a nondescript 'special weather statement' didn't convey. The first advisory is for Sunday in Fairbanks, where temperatures are expected to top 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius). Fairbanks has has been warmer in the past, but this is unusual for June, officials said. Here's what to know about Alaska's inaugural heat advisory: Why it's the first The National Weather Service's switch from special weather statements to advisories was meant to change how the public views the information. 'This is an important statement, and the public needs to know that there will be increasing temperatures, and they could be dangerous because Alaska is not used to high temperatures like these,' said Alekya Srinivasan, a Fairbanks-based meteorologist. 'We want to make sure that we have the correct wording and the correct communication when we're telling people that it will be really hot this weekend,' she said. Not unprecedented and not climate change The change doesn't reflect unprecedented temperatures, with Fairbanks having reached 90 degrees twice in 2024, Srinivasan said. It's purely an administrative change by the weather service. 'It's not that the heat in the interior that prompted Fairbanks to issue this is record heat or anything like that. It's just now there's a product to issue,' said Rich Thoman, a climate specialist at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy. Thoman also clarified that the term swap doesn't have anything to do with climate change. 'I think some of it is related to the recognition that hot weather does have an impact on Alaska, and in the interior especially," Thoman said. Little air conditioning While the temperatures in the forecast wouldn't be considered extreme in other U.S. states, Thoman noted that most Alaska buildings don't have air conditioning. 'And just the opposite, most buildings in Alaska are designed to retain heat for most of the year," he said. People can open their windows to allow cooler air in during early morning hours — if wildfires aren't burning in blaze-prone state. But if it's smoky and the windows have to remain shut, buildings can heat up very rapidly. 'Last year was the third year in a row in Fairbanks with more than a hundred hours of visibility-reducing smoke, the first time we've ever had three consecutive years over a hundred hours,' he said. There's only been two summers in Fairbanks in the 21st century with no hours of smoke that reduced visibility, a situation he said was commonplace from the 1950s to the 1970s. What about Anchorage? The Juneau and Fairbanks weather service offices have been allowed to issue heat advisories beginning this summer, but not the office in the state's largest city of Anchorage — at least not yet. And, regardless, temperatures in the area haven't reached the threshold this year at which a heat advisory would be issued.
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
Warning Issued for Grand Canyon Hikers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Dangerous temperatures prompted National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists to issue an extreme heat warning for Grand Canyon hikers on Friday. Temperatures are trending as high as 10 degrees above average for parts of the Grand Canyon this weekend, NWS meteorologist Jacob Lewandowski told Newsweek, and tourists and hikers could be caught off guard at the surge in heat in lower elevations. Why It Matters Heat advisories and extreme heat warnings have remained in place across the U.S. Southwest this week following a heat wave that impacted the West Coast. Although the Southwest typically sees high temperatures during the summer, the current temperatures are above average and pose dangerous threats should someone spend time outdoors without taking proper precautions. The exceptionally hot weather is particularly dangerous for hikers and other people who exert themselves physically outside during the peak hot hours. Dangerous temperatures prompted National Weather Service meteorologists to issue an extreme heat warning for Grand Canyon hikers on June 13, 2025. Dangerous temperatures prompted National Weather Service meteorologists to issue an extreme heat warning for Grand Canyon hikers on June 13, 2025. jose1983/Getty What To Know On Friday morning, the NWS office in Flagstaff, Arizona, issued an extreme heat warning for Grand Canyon Village, North Rim and Supai. The warning is in effect for areas below 4,000 feet in elevation. The warning specifically addressed hikers and urged them to use caution. "Day hikers on Bright Angel Trail should descend no farther than 1 1/2 miles from the upper trailhead," the warning said. "Between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM, hikers should be out of the canyon or at Havasupai Gardens or Bright Angel campgrounds, physical activity is discouraged. All hikers should have adequate gear, including a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, salty snacks, sufficient water, and electrolyte mix. Doubling your calorie intake helps maintain your energy." The alert warned of "dangerously hot conditions," with daytime temperatures surging up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit at Phantom Ranch. Temperatures up to 102 degrees were expected at Havasupai Gardens. The extreme heat warning will remain in effect from 10 a.m. local time Saturday morning through 7 p.m. Sunday evening. "Most individuals will be at risk for heat-related illnesses without effective cooling or adequate hydration, especially with prolonged outdoor exposure," the warning said. Extreme heat warnings also were in place for Southern Nevada and Southeastern California. What People Are Saying NWS meteorologist Jacob Lewandowski told Newsweek: "This is the most dangerous time of year for tourists and hikers in the Grand Canyon, especially if you're planning to descend in the lower elevations of the Grand Canyon. At the top, it can be in the 70s or 80s, but once you get down there, temperatures can reach 100 really easy and might catch you off guard. We definitely discourage any sort of recreation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon this time of year due to the danger." An extreme heat warning issued by NWS Flagstaff: "This warning is reserved for only the hottest days of the year and is issued when temperatures are expected to rise to dangerous levels." What Happens Next The extreme heat warning expires on Sunday night, but Lewandowski said temperatures could still trend above average on Monday.
