Brazil's São Paulo braced for near‑freezing temperatures as polar air mass sweeps the region

A polar air mass has moved across southeastern Brazil, pushing temperatures in São Paulo city to between 11 °C and 20 °C and as low as 6 °C in the mountain resort of Campos do Jordão. The cold front raises the risk of isolated frost, especially in higher elevations such as the Mantiqueira range, prompting the state’s Civil Defence to issue warnings for vulnerable groups, including people experiencing homelessness.

The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) forecasts widespread rain on Monday, with a chance of hail in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and São Paulo states. The same cold air will drive minimum temperatures to 14 °C‑16 °C in parts of São Paulo and the south of Minas, while southern capitals see further drops, e.g., Porto Alegre near 9 °C and Curitiba around 8 °C. Authorities advise residents to monitor updates and dress warmly to avoid health risks from the abrupt chill.