Cold wave prompts emergency shelters across São Paulo and Campo Grande

A cold front sweeping southeastern and central‑west Brazil has pushed daytime highs in São Paulo to the mid‑teens Celsius and overnight lows to around 8‑10 °C. The city’s Defense Civil declared a state of alert on 12 July and the state government activated the “Abrigo Solidário” at the Pedro II Metro station, offering food, mattresses, blankets and pet care from 13 to 16 July. Similar alerts were issued for Santo André and other municipalities, with recommendations on clothing, carbon‑monoxide safety and usage of cold‑weather kits.

In Campo Grande, the municipality reopened the “Inverno Acolhedor” night‑shelter at Parque Ayrton Senna on 13 July. The shelter, run by the municipal social assistance secretariat, provides accommodation, medical care, meals and pet assistance for people experiencing homelessness, responding to a forecast of lows near 11 °C and wind‑chill values around 6 °C. The reopening follows a recent Defense Civil warning about the sharp temperature drop.

Both regions are coordinating emergency services, distribution of winter kits and public information to protect vulnerable populations from the health risks of the abrupt cold spell.