According to the National Center for Monitoring and Disaster Alert (Cemaden) if the rains in the regional Cantareira system, which supplies 8.8 million people in Sao Paulo, remain 50 percent below average, this source could dry in four months, released today the newspaper Jornal do Brasil.

Speaking to this newspaper, specialist Adriana Cuartas said that five scenarios that take into account the possible impact of the rain were elaborated, and the results were compared with the time series of rainfall since 2004.

In statements to this Brazilian newspaper, Cuartas said it rained only 60.9 milimeters from the beginning of the month, equivalent to 22.5 percent of the historical average for January.

"We are monitoring, evaluating and seeing what happens to renew the projections," she said .

Eight states and the federal district were affected by blackouts yesterday after the National Electric System Operator asked some suppliers to cut supply to prevent further crises because of the heatwave and a qualified unprecedented drought.

Among the most affected areas there were Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Parana, Santa Catarina, Espíritu Santo and Goias, where there was a high consumption of air conditioning use.

In Sao Paulo, for example, the temperature may attain the 36.5 Celsius degrees.