Brazil's Copacabana Beach Experiences Rare Winter Heat Wave

Brazil is experiencing an unusually balmy winter with record high temperatures and dry weather across much of the country. The heat wave has engulfed 19 of Brazil's 26 states, including the capital, Brasilia, and has led to low humidity levels. Beachgoers have flocked to popular sandy stretches, such as Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana. Several state capitals recorded their highest temperatures of the year, with Cuiabá reaching 41.8 degrees Celsius (107.2 degrees Fahrenheit). Climate change and the El Niño phenomenon are believed to have amplified the higher temperatures and drier conditions.