Serra Catarinense sees intense frost as July ends

On July 31, the highlands of Brazil’s Serra Catarinense recorded a sharp drop in temperature, with minima of 2.5 °C in Bom Jardim da Serra and around 4 °C in São Joaquim, Urubici and nearby towns. The early‑morning frost painted fields and vegetation white, continuing the region’s reputation as the coldest part of the country. Photographs captured the icy scene, including a dragonfly with frozen wings, underscoring the extreme conditions that can occur even in summer months.

The persistent cold influences daily life and tourism: schools have been suspended when forecasts predict temperatures as low as –8 °C, residents keep water bottles in cars to defrost windshields, and the frosty landscape draws visitors seeking a rare Brazilian winter experience.