The drought will last another three months in the Northeast.
A climate bulletin was presented at a meeting in Maceió. Experts state that the Northeast is facing the longest drought of the century and, even if it rains, it will be an isolated phenomenon; rainfall will be concentrated in the coastal areas and Zona da Mata; the Sertão and Agreste regions are not expected to experience this situation.
Alagoas247 - The information is disappointing and frightening, but the extreme drought situation is expected to continue in the so-called Eastern Sector of the Northeast – which stretches from Rio Grande do Norte to Bahia – for the next three months. This was announced at a meeting between meteorology experts from across the country. A study was presented this Friday (April 19th) at the Government Palace in Maceió.
The Rainy Season bulletin, which covers the months of April, May, June, and July, was prepared at the Climate Analysis and Forecasting Meeting, which takes place monthly and brings together meteorologists from all over Brazil. They take into consideration regional rainfall conditions and global ocean and atmospheric conditions.
The probability of above-average rainfall for the eastern region of Northeast Brazil is only 20%. For rainfall within the expected range, the probability is estimated at 35%. However, the forecasts are not encouraging when it comes to the possibility of below-average rainfall, at 45%.
According to Ariane Frassoni, representative of the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies and the National Institute for Space Research (CPTEC/INPE), this is the longest drought of the century, but not the worst in terms of lack of rain.
"Despite forecasts that rainfall will remain below average, episodes of intense rain resulting from easterly wave disturbances cannot be ruled out," Ariane points out.
According to Emanuel Teixeira, a meteorologist at the Alagoas State Secretariat for the Environment and Water Resources, even if it rains, it will be an isolated phenomenon. "The rains will be concentrated in the coastal areas and Zona da Mata; the Sertão and Agreste regions are not expected to experience this," he said.
The data was received with concern by the meteorologist from Pernambuco, Thiago Luiz Bezerra. "The main issue is that the rainy season in the Pernambuco hinterland has already ended, and there will no longer be a significant amount of rain to replenish the water in the reservoirs. This pessimistic forecast should also harm our Agreste region," he stated.
According to the vice-governor of Alagoas, José Thomaz Nonô (DEM), the state government is deeply concerned about the forecasts. "We have been doing everything possible within the limitations, pursuing resources from the Federal Government, because if the winter is as predicted in this study, it means that before the end of the year we will already be experiencing the agonizing effects of drought again," said Nonô.