The intense cold arrived and the city of São Paulo recorded the coldest dawn of the year this Wednesday (18), with 6.6ºC marked at the conventional station of Mirante de Santana, of the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet), between 6 am and 7 am.

This is the smallest record for May since 1990 (see list below):

Minimum temperatures for May, since 1990:

05/19/1990: 5.4ºC
05/23/1990: 5.8ºC
05/18/2022: 6.6ºC
05/20/1999: 8.0ºC
05/30/2000: 8.3ºC
05/25/2007: 8.5ºC
05/29/2000: 8.7ºC
05/27/2004: 8.9ºC

Initially, the temperature released for this Wednesday was 7ºC. This number, however, corresponds to the measurement of the Mirante de Santana automatic station, while the conventional station recorded 6.6ºC in the first measurement of the day. Between 1940 and 1990, with another weather pattern, there were even lower temperatures in the city in May, explains Inmet meteorologist Franco Nadal. In the institute’s historical series, the lowest temperature recorded this month was on May 31, 1979, at only 2.2ºC.

Until this Wednesday, the coldest day of the year had been recorded on April 16, with thermometers reading 13.1ºC. With the gusts of wind, the feeling of cold was even greater. According to the Emergency Management Center (CGE), of the City of São Paulo, the cold sensation was negative in some regions of the capital, reaching -4º C, for example, in the South Zone. The strong wind knocked down several trees in the metropolitan region: from 00:00 to 17:17 the Fire Department received 99 calls for tree falls.

Pedestrians and homeless people try to protect themselves from the cold at Praça da Bandeira in São Paulo (SP), this Wednesday (18). — Photo: RENATO S. CERQUEIRA/FUTURA PRESS/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO

In the Congonhas Airport region, the thermal sensation was negative: -4ºC. There, the wind gusts reached almost 60 km/h. Because of the low temperatures, the Municipal Civil Defense has kept the capital on alert since Monday (16). The very low temperatures in the East Zone affected the door and brake system of some trains on Line 3-Red of the Metro, which was stuck in the yard. So trains are running at reduced speed this morning.

CGE forecast

COLD: A woman walks on an overpass in the city of São Paulo, SP, this Wednesday, 18, during a cold front. — Photo: RENATO S. CERQUEIRA/FUTURA PRESS/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO

According to the CGE, the maximum temperature forecast for this Wednesday will be 14º C in the capital of São Paulo. The presence of cold and dry air inhibits the formation of cloud cover. The day should be sunny, with winds that can exceed 50 km/h, which increases the feeling of cold. On Thursday (19) the forecast in the city of São Paulo is a minimum temperature of 7º C at dawn, with a predominance of sun, and a maximum of 16º C in the afternoon. Also according to the Emergency Management Center, there is no forecast of rain for the night, but there will be an increase in clouds.

Man dies in the community center

One person died at the São Martinho community center, a shelter agreed with the São Paulo City Hall and managed by the Nossa Senhora do Bom Parto Social Center. The site was isolated. According to initial information, the victim would have suffered a seizure while waiting to have breakfast. The place does not house the homeless population but offers food daily.