Brazil records drought in 92% of its territory, says Monitor

According to the latest update of the Drought Monitor, between September and October, in terms of drought severity, there was a easing of the phenomenon in ten states of the Federation: Amazonas, Bahia, Federal District, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Roraima and Tocantins. In the opposite direction, in another 12 states of the Federation the drought intensified during this period: Alagoas, Ceará, Maranhão, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia, São Paulo and Sergipe. In four other states the phenomenon remained stable in terms of severity during this period: Acre, Amapá, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina. Only Rio Grande do Sul remained drought-free in October.

Considering the five geopolitical regions monitored by the Drought Monitor, the Northeast had the mildest drought conditions in October, while the North had the most severe situation, registering exceptional drought – the most severe on the Monitor's scale. Between September and October, there was a softening of the phenomenon in four of the five regions of Brazil: Central-West, Northeast, North and Southeast. The exception was the South, where the phenomenon intensified due to the increased severity of the drought in Paraná. Considering the extension of the area with drought, the phenomenon expanded in the Northeast. In both the North and the South, the area with drought had a slight reduction. In the Central-West and Southeast, the phenomenon continued to be observed in all territories of these regions.

In the comparison between September and October, three states recorded an increase in the area affected by drought: Alagoas, Bahia and Ceará. In the opposite direction, the Monitor verified a decrease in the area affected by the phenomenon in four other states: Amapá, Amazonas, Roraima and Santa Catarina. In 19 other states, the area affected by drought remained stable: Acre, Distrito Federal, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia, São Paulo, Sergipe and Tocantins. In turn, only Rio Grande do Sul remained free of drought in October.

Seventeen states of the Federation recorded drought across 100% of their territory in October of this year: Acre, the Federal District, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia, São Paulo, Sergipe and Tocantins. In the other states of the Federation that recorded areas with drought, the percentages varied from 32% to 99%.

Based on the territory of each unit of the Federation monitored, Amazonas leads the total area with drought in October, followed by Pará, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais and Bahia. In total, between August and September, the area with the phenomenon increased from 7,96 million to 7,85 million km², equivalent to 92% of the Brazilian territory.

Situation by State

Acre

Between May and October, the drought area remained present throughout the entire territory of Acre. This is the first time that the state has recorded drought in 100% of its territory for six consecutive months since November 2022, when the state entered the Monitor Map.

In terms of severity, the phenomenon remained stable between September and October with the presence of areas with severe drought and extreme drought. It is the most severe condition of the phenomenon in AC since November 2022

Alagoas

Between September and October, the area affected by drought in Alagoas increased from 73% to 85%. This is the largest area with drought recorded in the state since the 100% recorded in February 2021.

Alagoas recorded an intensification of the phenomenon with the recording of severe drought in 6% of the state in October. This is the most severe drought in the state of Alagoas since December 2023, when there was severe drought in 16% of the state.

Amapá

Between September and October, the area affected by drought in Amapá was reduced from 92% to 82%

The severity of the phenomenon remained stable in Amapá between September and October, with moderate drought remaining at 3% of the Amapá territory. In addition, Amapá had the mildest drought conditions among the northern states in October.

Amazon

The area affected by drought in Amazonas fell slightly from 100% to 99% of the state between September and October

Between September and October, the drought in the state of Amazonas eased, with the area with exceptional drought reducing from 30% to 26% of the Amazon territory. Even so, the state had the most intense drought conditions in Brazil among all the states of the Federation in October.

Bahia

The area with drought increased from 91% to 93% of Bahia between September and October. It is the largest area with drought in the state since January of this year: 99%.

The phenomenon eased in the state of Bahia between September and October, with the area affected by severe drought being reduced from 18% to 5% of the state.

Ceará

The area with drought in Ceará increased from 68% to 76% of the state between September and October. Even so, Ceará had the lowest percentage of area with drought in the Northeast in October

The drought intensified in Ceará between September and October with moderate drought recorded in 5% of the state. This is the most severe condition of the phenomenon in CE since the 10% moderate drought recorded in March 2024. On the other hand, Ceará had the worst drought condition among the northeastern states in October

Federal District

Between May and October, the area with drought remained present in 100% of the Federal District. Since the period between June and November 2022, this is the first time that the DF has recorded drought across its entire territory for six consecutive months.

The drought eased in the Federal District between September and October, as extreme drought was no longer observed in the DF. With only moderate drought recorded, the Federal District had the best drought conditions in the Central-West in October.

Espírito Santo

Between June and October, the area with drought remained in 100% of Espírito Santo. Since the period between July and November 2022, this is the first time that the state has recorded five consecutive months of drought across its entire territory.

Between September and October, the drought eased in Espírito Santo, with a sharp reduction in the area with moderate drought from 100% to 50% of the state. In addition, the state of Espírito Santo had the mildest drought conditions among the states of the Southeast in October.

Goiás

The drought area remained at 100% of Goiás between July and October. Since the period between July and October 2022, this is the first time that the phenomenon has been recorded for four consecutive months in the state.

The drought eased in Goiás between September and October, as extreme drought was no longer recorded in the state

Maranhao

Between September and October, the area with drought remained stable in 100% of Maranhão. Since the period from December 2017 to January 2018, this is the first time that the state has recorded drought across its entire territory for two consecutive months.

The phenomenon intensified in Maranhão with a significant increase in the area of ​​moderate drought, which went from 58% to 88% of the state between September and October. This is the most severe condition of the phenomenon in Maranhão since February of this year, when there was severe drought in 13% of the state.

Mato Grosso

Mato Grosso continued to experience drought across its entire territory between July and October. Since June 2021, when MT entered the Monitor Map, this is the first time that the state has recorded drought across 100% of its territory for four consecutive months.

There was a easing of the drought in Mato Grosso between September and October, as extreme drought was no longer recorded in its territory. Even so, the state had the most severe condition of the phenomenon in the Central-West in October with 60% of severe drought recorded in MT

Mato Grosso do Sul

In Mato Grosso do Sul, the drought area remained throughout the state between July and October. Since the period between April and July 2022, this is the first time that the state has recorded four consecutive months of the phenomenon throughout the entire territory of Mato Grosso do Sul.

The drought eased slightly in Mato Grosso do Sul between September and October, as extreme drought was no longer seen in the state

Minas Gerais

Between July and October, Minas Gerais continued to experience drought across 100% of its territory. Since Minas Gerais entered the Monitor Map in November 2018, this is the first time that the state has recorded the phenomenon across its entire territory for four consecutive months.

In Minas Gerais, the drought eased between September and October, as extreme drought was no longer observed in the state.

Para

Pará continued to experience drought across 100% of its territory between August and October. This is the first time that the state has recorded the phenomenon for three consecutive months since its entry into the Monitor Map in April 2023.

Between September and October, there was an intensification of the drought in Pará with a significant increase in severe drought from 3% to 17% of the Pará territory during this period. This is the most intense condition of the phenomenon in the state since April 2023, when Pará entered the Monitor Map

Paraíba

Paraíba recorded drought across its entire territory in both September and October. Since the period from November to December 2021, this is the first time that the state has had drought across 100% of its territory for two consecutive months.

Between September and October, the drought intensified in Paraíba with moderate drought recorded in 8% of its territory. This is the most severe condition in the state since the 20% moderate drought recorded in February this year.

Paraná

Between August and October, the area with drought remained at 72% of Paraná. It is the largest area with the phenomenon in the state since May 2022, when the phenomenon was recorded in 98% of the Paraná territory. In October, PR was the southern state with the highest percentage of area with drought records

Between September and October, the drought intensified in Paraná with severe drought recorded in 24% of the state. This is the most severe drought condition in Paraná since May 2022. In addition, Paraná had the most severe drought among the southern states in October

Pernambuco

Pernambuco continued to experience drought across 100% of its territory between September and October. This is the first time that the state has recorded drought across its entire area for two consecutive months since February and March 2021.

The drought intensified in Pernambuco between September and October, with 7% of the state experiencing severe drought. This is the most severe drought in the state since January of this year, when 11% of Pernambuco experienced severe drought.

Piaui

Between September and October, the area with drought in Piauí remained at 100% of the state. Since the period between November and December 2023, it is the first time that the Piauí territory has registered the phenomenon throughout the state for two consecutive months.

The drought intensified in Piauí between September and October, with severe drought increasing from 7% to 14% of the state. This is the most severe condition of the phenomenon in PI since October 2021, when there was severe drought in 21% of the Piauí territory.

Rio de Janeiro

The drought affected 100% of the state of Rio de Janeiro between September and October. This is the first time that the state of Rio de Janeiro has experienced drought for two consecutive months since its inclusion on the Monitor Map in May 2020.

The severity of the drought remained stable in the State of Rio de Janeiro between September and October, with moderate drought recorded in 67% of RJ. This is the most severe condition of the phenomenon in the state since it entered the Monitor Map in May 2020.

Rio Grande do Norte

The area with drought in Rio Grande do Norte remained at 95% between September and October. It is the largest area with drought in the state since November 2023, when there was drought in the entire state of RN

The drought intensified in Rio Grande do Norte between September and October, with moderate drought recorded in 12% of the state. This is the most severe drought in the state since the 44% moderate drought recorded in January of this year.

Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul remained drought-free between October 2023 and October this year. The state has the best conditions in Brazil in October as the only state in the Federation free from drought

Rio Grande do Sul has been drought-free for 13 consecutive months. The state's condition is the best in Brazil in October

Rondônia

The area with drought remained at 100% of Rondônia between July and October. Since the period between December 2023 and March of this year, it is the first time that the state has registered drought in its entirety for four consecutive months.

Between September and October, the drought intensified in Rondônia with severe drought advancing from 64% to 72% of the territory of Rondônia. It is the greatest severity of drought in the state since January 2024, when there was an exceptional drought, the most severe on the Monitor scale, in 2% of RO

Roraima

Between September and October, Roraima saw a sharp reduction in the area affected by drought, which fell from 77% to 32% of its territory. This is the smallest area with the phenomenon recorded in the state since it entered the Monitor Map in November 2023. In addition, Roraima had the lowest percentage of area affected by drought in the North in October.

Between September and October, the drought eased in Roraima with the area of ​​moderate drought reducing from 28% to 20% of the state during this period.

Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina recorded a reduction in the area affected by drought from 50% to 38% between September and October

Between August and October, the severity of the phenomenon remained stable in Santa Catarina, as during the period there was only a record of weak drought, the mildest on the Monitor's scale.

São Paulo

In the State of São Paulo, the drought area continued in 100% of its territory between September and October. Since the period between July and August 2022, this is the first time that SP has recorded drought in the entire state for two consecutive months.

The drought intensified in the State of São Paulo between September and October, with a significant increase in the area with severe drought from 23% to 47% of the state. This is the highest intensity of the phenomenon in São Paulo since January 2023, when there was extreme drought in 3% of the state. In addition, SP had the highest severity of drought among the states of the Southeast in October

Sergipe

Between September and October, the drought-stricken area remained at 100% of Sergipe. This is the first time that the state has recorded the phenomenon across its entire territory for two consecutive months since January and February of this year.

Between September and October, Sergipe once again recorded severe drought in 20% of its territory. As a result, the state had the most severe drought since November 2021, when there was severe drought in 36% of the state. Sergipe also had the most severe drought in the Northeast in October

Tocantins

Tocantins continued with drought across 100% of its territory between July and October. Since the period between December 2023 and March of this year, this is the first time that the state has recorded drought across its entire territory for four consecutive months.

In Tocantins, the drought eased between September and October, with the area with severe drought reducing from 66% to 52% of the state.