Are you enjoying these sunny days in São Paulo? Then get ready, because the forecast for this weekend calls for a cold front to hit the South, São Paulo, and parts of the Central-South region of the country. According to MetSul, the cold weather is expected to arrive between October 16 and 21.
Driven by an extratropical cyclone in the Atlantic, a polar air mass will move from Argentina to Brazil, reaching near the southern coast between this Friday and Saturday. This will facilitate the transport of colder air to the states in the region.
However, the forecasts do not indicate extreme cold. The main difference will be the persistence of colder days —even in the middle of spring —with afternoons that are barely warm and cold early mornings.
In addition, the arrival of this cold front brings a risk of thunderstorms in São Paulo before the cold air intensifies.
Which regions will be affected by the cold front?
With the most intense cooling occurring in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná, the effects will also be felt in states such as Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, southern Goiás, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, primarily causing a drop in temperature.
In the area affected by the cold air, temperatures in São Paulo will be lower than what we typically see in October.
MetSul has not yet released a table with the forecast for minimum and maximum temperatures for the São Paulo region, but estimates from Meteored indicate lows between 10 °C and 15 °C in the capital and throughout the state.
In other words, through the end of this week, the trend is for unstable weather and heavy cloud cover in parts of the Central-Southern region. Therefore, the sensation of “prolonged cold” and limited warming in the afternoon will be common.
Areas of concern
Based on MetSul’s warnings about the risk of strong to severe storms in Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, and São Paulo, forecasts indicate the possibility of heavy rain, hail, and localized wind gusts reaching or exceeding 100 km/h.
Therefore, it’s worth preparing for possible flooding and flash floods.
The risk is associated with the interaction between warm, humid air and a low-pressure system.
It is worth noting that this alert does not replace official warnings from Inmet or Civil Defense. To receive preventive alerts, the public can register their ZIP code via text message to 40199. In case of emergencies, the numbers to call are 199 (Civil Defense) and 193 (Fire Department).
The São Paulo Civil Defense reminds the public that cold weather requires special attention for vulnerable people. It is important to dress warmly, avoid prolonged exposure to the cold, and look out for children, the elderly, and people experiencing homelessness (by notifying municipal services if you see anyone without adequate protection).
Also, remember to stay hydrated and protect your pets. Finally, due to the risk of fires or carbon monoxide poisoning , avoid heating enclosed spaces using grills, stoves, or burning cans.
