Rare frost and snow in southern cities
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Bizarre snowfall strikes southern Brazil after a fierce cold snap
People were enchanted at the sight of a rare snowfall in the streets of Gramado, a resort town in Brazil. Credit: Alexandre Pinto via Storyful
Storyful, Storyful
You wouldn’t expect Brazil to be the place to build a snowman, but for the first time in 64 years, the country’s streets have been overtaken by a rare winter phenomenon.
A fierce cold snap prompted snowfall in southern Brazil, with snow accumulating on streets of cities where the wintry phenomenon is rarely seen. The last time a blizzard hit Brazil was in 1957, when 4.3 feet of snow was recorded in the Santa Catarina state.
At least 43 cities registered either snow or freezing rain late Wednesday, according to information from Climatempo, a weather service.
Temperatures are expected to keep dropping, with more snow possible.
The Brazilian government’s meteorological institute says low temperatures should endure until the start of August. There may be frost in Mato Grosso do Sul, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and Goias states by Friday.
Local television footage showed Brazilians building a snowman in a plaza and having a snowball fight in Bom Jesus, a city in Rio Grande do Sul state.
Some Brazilians tweeted their reaction on the winter phenomenon, saying the snowfall brought ‘intense cold air-break’ and hail.
The dropping temperatures and cold snaps have also prompted homeless Brazilians to find shelter and warm food to stay safe.
Contributing: Debora Alvarez, Associated Press