Cuiabá monitors rivers as humidity drops below 20% amid El Niño drought

The municipal Defense Civil of Cuiabá has intensified daily monitoring of the severe dry spell and low relative humidity, which has hovered between 20% and 30% and is forecast to fall below 20% in the coming days. Officials are tracking water levels in the Cuiabá and Coxipó rivers to anticipate any impact on the city’s water supply, and they are coordinating with the concessionaire Águas Cuiabá to assess water‑capture conditions.

Authorities warn that a strong El Niño episode could extend the drought through the end of 2026 and into early 2027. The department is urging residents to conserve water, avoid urban fires, and follow health advice such as staying hydrated, limiting sun exposure, and using masks when dust is present. Violations of fire‑prevention rules are treated as environmental crimes subject to administrative, civil and criminal penalties.