Lima Metropolitan area recorded very high levels of ultraviolet radiation in March of 2023

The National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) reported that according to the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (SENAMHI), in March of this year, the Ultraviolet Radiation Index in Lima Metropolitan area reported a maximum level of eight, of very high health risk. This result was recorded in the second week of the month, specifically on March 7 of the current year.

According to the technical report Environmental Statistics, the average monthly ultraviolet radiation index in the capital city reached level seven and showed no variation when compared to March of the last year (level 7).

The production of potable water in Lima Metropolitan area reached 71 million 266 thousand cubic meters; it showed an increase of 1.8% compared to what was reported in March 2022, which was 69 million 974 thousand cubic meters.

In March of this year and according to information provided by the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (SENAMHI), it reported that the average flow rate of the Rímac River, in March 2023, reached 48.28 m3/s, recording a reduction of 5.0% compared to March of the last year (50.82 m3/s). Meanwhile, it decreased by 18.5% compared to its historical average (59.21 m3/s).

Likewise, the average flow rate of the Chillón River reached 11.17 m3/s, which showed a reduction of 28.3% compared to the month of March 2022 (15.57 m3/s) and a reduction of 6.9% compared to its historical average (12.00 m3/s).

In March of this year, the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) announced that the total number of emergencies that occurred at the national level were one thousand 301 which were reported during the month of March 2023. In a disaggregated manner, it was reported: 15 deceased people, 281 injured people, 24,152 injured people, 125,815 affected people, 47,322 affected homes, 3,109 destroyed homes and 9,472 hectares of destroyed crops.

According to departments, the highest number of emergencies occurred in the following departments Ayacucho (197), Cajamarca (157), Piura (111), Ancash (104), Lima and Apurímac (86 in each case), Huancavelica (77), Amazons (57), La Libertad (56), Huánuco (52), San Martín (48), Cusco (39), Lambayeque (37), Junín (33), Ica (28), Tumbes (27), Pasco (25), Arequipa (19), Ucayali (17), Moquegua (13), Loreto (10), Constitutional Province of Callao (7), Madre de Dios (6), Tacna (5) and Puno (4).

Regarding to natural phenomena, 1 thousand 169 emergencies were recorded that included heavy rainfall (849); flooding by river overflow and thunderstorm (storms) (56 in each case); strong winds (47); landslides (46); huaycos (43); hailstorm (29); hills collapse (18); snowfall and electrical storms (6 in each case); earthquakes (4); river erosion and wildfires (3 in each case); cold wave, flood and frosts (1 in each case).

In March of this year, according to the monitoring carried out at eight stations by the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (SENAMHI), those located in the departments of Arequipa and Puno, where the ones that registered the lowest temperatures.

Thus, the Macusani stations (-4.0°C) located in the department of Puno and Imata (-3.4°C) in Arequipa had the lowest temperatures. Similar trend was reported in Crucero Alto (-3.2°C), Pampahuta (-3.0°C), Porpera (-2.9°C), Tisco (-2.8°C), Santa Lucia (-2.6°C) and Pillones (-1.2°C).

On the other hand, the stations that reported the greatest number of days with meteorological frosts were Pillones (30 days), Macusani (21 days), Tisco (18 days), Imata (17 days), Cruise Alto and Santa Lucia (16 days each one), Porpera (15 days) and Pampahuta (12 days).