The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) attributed the temperatures to a “double whammy” of El Niño and long-term climate change
Droughts in Latin America and the Caribbean region between January and November 2023.
‘No respite in sight’ – Brazil flooding
In related developments, record rainfall over the past few weeks linked to El Niño caused unprecedented flooding in the southern Brazil, affecting over 850,000 people, and resulting in massive infrastructure and economic losses.
According to authorities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, 78 people have so far been confirmed dead, a further 175 injured and 105 more missing. Almost 19,000 people have lost their homes and about 116,000 displaced.
“There is no immediate respite in sight,” WMO said in an update issued on Tuesday.
Much of Rio Grande do Sul has been hit by persistent, heavy rainfall since 27 April, according to national meteorological agencies and in some regions, downpours have exceeded 300 millimetres (mm) in less than a week.
In the Southern Brazilian municipality of Bento Gonçalves, for example, the volume reached 543.4 mm.
Call to action
Against the worrying background, WMO called for increased investment and support for climate services, particularly in the health and disaster preparedness sectors, to address the escalating climate-related challenges faced by Latin America and the Caribbean.
It highlighted the need for greater resources for national meteorological and hydrological services to strengthen forecasts and early warnings, and integration of climate data in health surveillance to develop stronger public health response to emerging diseases.
The UN agency also urged adapting the health sector and improved decision making to strengthen resilience against climate change.