Brazil’s First Major Cold Wave of 2026 Brings Frost, Snow and Coastal Swells

Overview

• Many Center–South cities logged the week’s coldest dawn on Tuesday, with −1.2°C in São José dos Ausentes (RS), 3.6°C in Divinolândia (SP) and widespread frost in Mato Grosso do Sul.
• Santa Catarina saw localized snow and subzero readings on Monday, with Epagri reporting −3°C in Urupema and a wind chill near −12°C.
• Risk alerts stayed in place as Inmet warned of frost that can damage crops, and strong surf battered coasts, toppling a kiosk in Torres (RS) and prompting marine warnings that closed Rio’s Tim Maia bike path.
• São Paulo expanded cold‑weather aid, opening nine tents and assisting more than 20,000 people in the first night of its Operação Baixas Temperaturas as mornings stayed near single‑digit lows.
• Models from Inmet and Climatempo show the cold losing strength from Wednesday, with a separate front likely to bring rain late week and the risk of heavy totals in parts of PR, MS, SP, MG and RJ.