The first week of the austral winter will be characterized by heavy rains and the possibility of snowfall in the higher areas of the Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina mountain ranges.
According to meteorologists, snow cannot be ruled out in the higher altitude areas of the two southern regions. Temperatures could drop below freezing in all three southern Brazilian states, but negative temperatures are also expected in some areas of the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul.
“Due to its intensity, geographic extension, and duration, this powerful mass of cold air of polar origin will be classified as a true cold wave: the first of the winter of 2026 and the second of the year,” explained the Climatempo meteorological center.
An extratropical cyclone positioned in the Atlantic, east of Argentina, will also contribute to worsening weather conditions. According to MetSul Meteorologia, many areas in southern and eastern Rio Grande do Sul will experience winds of 50 to 70 kilometers per hour, significantly increasing the perception of cold.
The wave of cold air will also affect other states in the country. Forecasts indicate that southern Goiás, the center-south of Rio de Janeiro state, and several regions of Minas Gerais, including the Triângulo Mineiro and Zona da Mata, could experience temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius.
Experts believe this could be the most intense cold air mass of the year. Polar air is expected to begin moving away from Brazil starting June 26. Some areas, such as Espírito Santo, Brasilia, and northern Mato Grosso, will not be directly affected by the cold wave; in these regions, the drop in temperatures will be due primarily to increased cloud cover and precipitation.