In February the area of positive SST anaomalies in the Equatorial Pacific diminished indicating the weakening of El Niño activity.
There was a reduction of rains in the northwestern region of northern Brazil, Southeast and Central-west Brazil. On the other hand, the central and northern parts of Pará, northern parts of Northeast Brazil and almost all of the South Region received more than normal rainfall. Cold frontal activity associated with cyclogenesis was responsible for heavy rains in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The forest and bush fires in Roraima state were caused by deficient rainfall. Almost 50% of all the hot spots registered in Brazil in the month were observed in Roraima. Positive maximum temperature anomalies of 3oC to 4oC, alongside the rainfall shortage, pushed the number of hotspots upward.
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