Weather

Brazil is experiencing one of the wettest rainy seasons on record. On Brazil's southern coast, five months of rain fell in 15 days. Flooding lead to over a hundred deaths and over 400,000 people displaced. With more extreme weather expected due to climate change, officials in Brazil are considering relocating whole towns, adding to a growing global phenomenon of people becoming "climate refugees". Carrie Kahn introduces us to some of them in southern Brazil.

Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org.

NPR's Adrian Florido speaks with reporter Alana Casanova-Burgess about her reporting on efforts to possibly change how we categorize hurricanes as they become more powerful.

NPR's Michel Martin talks to emergency room physician Dr. George Chiampas about how to stay healthy during the heat wave.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a record number of hurricanes this season, which began on June 1 and runs through Nov. They're forecasting anywhere from 17 to 25 storms in the Atlantic basin, including at least four major hurricanes. Scientists think this storm activity could be due to strong winds, warmer ocean temperatures and a scientific mystery unfolding in the Atlantic.

Questions about hurricanes or other weather disasters? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to consider it for a future episode!