Southern hemisphere winter begins today: Season forecast for São Paulo

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This year’s Southern Hemisphere winter officially began on Monday, June 21, at 00:32 AM (Brasília time) and runs until 4:21 PM on September 22, 2021 (Brasilia time).

According to Climatempo, expectations for the new season are still not very encouraging, as weather forecasts point to below-average rainfall in the state of São Paulo (including the capital). The figure is already low, as winter is naturally a drier season.

According to meteorologists, below-average rainfall does not mean a total absence of precipitation, but rather that accumulations will not be enough to increase reservoirs.

Some simulations suggest periods with heavier rain in the central and eastern parts of the state in the second week of June, and in the first half of August (this event tends to be widespread and reach a good part of the state), and between these periods rainfall will be irregular and not very heavy.

As for temperatures, there are no forecasts for intense cold in the state and the capital throughout June. Two more comprehensive cold air masses are expected to hit São Paulo in the winter, one expected in the second half of July and another around the first half of August. Both are capable of holding minimum temperatures below 10°C in several cities in São Paulo.

“Apart from these two events, no strong cold waves are expected to hit São Paulo, and therefore the temperature during the winter tends to remain above average for the period.”

Months

According to Climatempo, in July, only a strong cold front will reach the state, bringing heavy rain and cold weather for a few days. The rest of the month will see many sunny days and clear skies, with high temperatures for this time of year and air humidity below the recommended levels between the capital, the Campinas region, and the countryside.

From August, cold fronts and cold air masses should reach the state with greater intensity, overcasting the skies and bringing temperatures down below-average climatological levels. A few heavy rainfall events are expected between Greater São Paulo and the Paraíba Valley during this time.

By the end of winter, the sun will again shine brightly over the state in September, and the air will remain dry. This combination favors the occurrence of heatwaves, so the forecast is for high temperatures during the month for this time of year. Not as high as in 2020, when Brazil experienced record temperatures in several regions, but it should still be a scorching end of the season.