The month of September 2026 ended with a record heatwave in Amapá, as the average temperature reached 34.6 ºC, the highest value recorded in the last 58 years. According to the Hydro-meteorology and Renewable Energy Center (NHMET-Iepa), this thermal increase is directly related to the effects of El Niño.
In 2023, the maximum average was already 33.9 ºC, signaling an upward trend. Generally, the most intense temperature peaks are observed between September and October.
Meteorologist Jefferson Vilhena clarified that the impacts of El Niño were predictable and that the trend points to a worsening of the heat in the coming days. He stated that the phenomenon is already affecting the region, causing rising temperatures and decreased rainfall, and that the drought observed in September should intensify in October.
Iepa anticipates new periods of intense heat for the month of October, concentrated especially in municipalities located in the South, West-Central, and East regions of the state. The previous episode, which occurred in 2024, was responsible for recording the hottest year ever documented. This phenomenon heats the waters of the Pacific Ocean, altering the global climate, which results in heavy rains in some areas and droughts in others.
According to the projection from the Managing and Operational Center of the Amazon Protection System (Censipam), the coming months will be characterized by little precipitation, which will be highly localized and interspersed with extensive periods of drought.
The predicted rains will occur in isolated convective episodes, meaning quick and restricted downpours, with monthly volumes that may fall below 20 mm during September and October. Furthermore, the lower amount of cloud cover, combined with low air humidity, will intensify the incidence of direct solar radiation over the state, increasing the thermal discomfort of the population.
The long intervals without rain also harm the soil's ability to recover its moisture and restrict the replenishment of the river and stream levels in Amapá.