Rio de Janeiro has wettest September on record

Rio de Janeiro has recorded its wettest September since local measurements began in 1997, the city government said, as persistent rain affects Brazil's southeast during a powerful El Nino.

The city government's Alerta Rio system recorded the highest volume of September rainfall in its records. Rain and grey skies have disrupted beach activity in the usually busy tourist areas of Copacabana and Ipanema.

Experts said the exceptional rainfall, also affecting other southeastern cities, is linked to a combination of climatic factors including El Nino. Meteorologist Estael Sias said cold air masses from Antarctica were also affecting some Brazilian states.

Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology recorded exceptional weather events in some regions last week, including lightning, strong winds, tornadoes and hail. The agency also reported record September rainfall for Sao Paulo.

El Nino is a natural climate variation that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and can change wind and rain patterns worldwide. Scientists and the UN have estimated that this year's El Nino could have severe global effects, including disease and food insecurity.