Warning issued for low humidity in central Brazil
Brazil’s National Meteorology Institute has issued warnings on the risks caused by low humidity in various parts of the country, with greater intensity in the Central-West and part of the Southeast, where relative humidity could drop below 12 percent.
According to institute’s warning, with humidity between 12 and 20 percent comes a potential risk of forest fires and health problems—especially lung diseases, headaches, dry skin, and discomfort in the eyes, mouth and nose.
The most worrying situation, with a “great danger” alert, covers the central region of the country, including the west of Minas Gerais and the northwest of São Paulo.
In these places, people should drink plenty of fluids, but avoid diuretic drinks such as coffee and alcohol, and avoid physical activity and exposure to the sun during the hottest and driest hours of the day. People are also advised to wear skin moisturizers and humidify their environment.
The institute also issued a warning of potential danger in a wider area, where relative humidity is expected to vary between 20 and 30 percent, affecting not only the Central-West and the Southeast, but also the South of the country and the western part of the Northeast.
