São Paulo is sweltering through its hottest December in over 60 years, with temperatures reaching 35.9°C (96.6°F) on Thursday afternoon. The record-breaking heat – measured at the Mirante de Santana station, which has maintained records since 1943 – comes as Brazil officially enters summer and raises concerns about public health and strain on the city’s infrastructure. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the heatwave persists across the Southeast region, prompting an orange alert for high temperatures in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
São Paulo is experiencing its warmest December in over six decades, with temperatures reaching a high of 35.9°C (96.6°F) on Thursday. The record-breaking heat comes as the city enters its first week of summer and underscores the growing impact of climate trends in South America.
The Mirante de Santana meteorological station, in the city’s northern zone, recorded the temperature at 4 p.m. local time on December 25, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet). This is the highest temperature registered in December since 1961, when a high of 35.6°C (96.1°F) was recorded on December 3. Measurements at the Mirante de Santana station have been ongoing since 1943.
The recent high also threatens to surpass the warmest temperature recorded in São Paulo so far this year, which reached 35.1°C (95.2°F) in October. The intense heat is being driven by a new heat wave impacting the region.
The Centro de Gerenciamento de Emergências Climáticas (CGE) reports that a mass of warm, humid air continues to dominate the Southeast region, keeping temperatures above average. The forecast for Thursday calls for strong sunshine throughout the day, with isolated showers possible between late afternoon and early evening. The heat wave coincides with the official start of summer in Brazil.
*Under the supervision of Thiago Félix
