Polar Air Drives Record Lows as Cold Front Triggers Storm Alerts in Brazil

Overview

• Record or season‑low minimums continued on Monday in the Centre‑South, with Rio de Janeiro marking a third straight daily low and Brasília stations recording some of the coldest readings of 2026.
• A cold front advancing from the South is expected to intensify rain and thunderstorms, and Inmet has issued yellow alerts for strong winds and possible hail, especially in Rio Grande do Sul.
• Very low minima were widespread: rural Prata in the Triângulo Mineiro fell to 3.9°C, several Paraná stations were below 5°C, and interior São Paulo sites such as Jarinu registered around 5°C.
• Meteorologists say the polar air mass should weaken around Tuesday–Wednesday, bringing gradual warming, but they warn follow‑on cold pulses and strong regional contrasts between a rainy North and a cold South.
• State and municipal civil‑defense agencies have issued public guidance, reported localized incidents in Salvador, advised hydration and sheltering for vulnerable people, and warned of risks to crops and infrastructure where storms or hail occur.