For half of early July this year, the minimum temperature didn’t rise beyond 10 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature didn’t go over 20 degrees. That means the average minimum temperature for July was 11.9 degrees, 0.9 degrees lower than the average minimum temperature for this time of the year, and the average maximum temperature was 21.8 degrees, which is 1.1 degrees lower than normal.
They say the average temperature for July this year in São Paulo was the second coldest in the past 25 years.
In 2023 and 2024, the El Niño phenomenon occurred in the southern hemisphere, so it barely felt like winter. This year, they predicted that neither El Niño nor La Niña would occur, so the winter would be normal.
Just since the start of August, there has been a run of days with a minimum temperature of 8 degrees.
Brazilian houses and apartments are built with concrete walls and wooden plank or tile floors, so when the cold days persist, the whole building cools, and the inside of the house feels chilly. People use oil heaters and electric radiant heaters to heat their homes. You can’t get the electric carpets or the “kotatsu” (a low table with a heater and a quilt that you sit under to warm your legs) that you can get in Japan.
Every winter, they ask for donations of clothes at various stores. There are also large boxes at pharmacies where you can donate clothes.
They have a large sturdy container in my shopping center too, so that you can make donations all year round. “Exército de Salvação” (The Salvation Army) has been operating in Brazil since 1922.
The São Paulo Municipal Government is always asking for donations of food and furniture, not just clothes. They say that the current number of homeless people in São Paulo is an amazing 96,220. This figure is based on data from the “Cadastro Único” (social protection system registry). Brazilians can register on the Cadastro Único to receive social assistance. Families who earn less than three times the minimum wage and homeless people who live on the street are eligible to register.
When the temperature drops below 13 degrees, São Paulo City Hall puts into action its emergency response plan and cold weather operations for the homeless. They set up tents in several locations around the city and distribute bread, soup, water, hot chocolate, tea, as well as blankets from 6 p.m. to midnight.
When the temperature in São Paulo drops below 10 degrees, the São Paulo State Government provides mats, blankets, and meals at Pedro II Metro station in the center of São Paulo from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day. They also set aside space for pets. Apparently, about 400 people can spend cold nights in this Metro station. But not everyone can be helped, so unfortunately, every year, there are reports in the news of people freezing to death on the streets.
Actually, we do get snow at times, even in Brazil. You are probably amazed, “What?! Snow in a tropical country like Brazil?” But the mountain ranges in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, in the southern part of Brazil, reach altitudes from 1,300 to 1,800 meters, so there are places where it does snow.
By the way, it has never snowed in São Paulo.
I really don't like the cold, so I just hope winter ends soon.
