Spring Begins in Brazil with Rain, Storms and Falling Temperatures

Spring officially arrives in Brazil this Tuesday, bringing rain, storms and a notable temperature drop to the Centro-Sul region, which spans the country's south-central states.

Despite this cool and wet start, meteorologists are forecasting a season marked by extremes. Above-average rainfall and periods of intense heatwaves are expected in São Paulo as the season progresses.

These contrasting conditions are being attributed to a powerful El Niño event, a recurring climate phenomenon in which warmer-than-usual ocean temperatures in the Pacific influence weather patterns globally. This year's occurrence has been dubbed a "Super El Niño" due to its exceptional intensity.

According to forecasters, the Super El Niño is expected to increase both the frequency and severity of storms across São Paulo, while also driving stretches of extreme heat throughout the spring months.

Meteorological agencies typically rely on long-range forecasts, models that combine historical data with current atmospheric conditions, to anticipate how seasonal patterns like this one will unfold.

The apparent contradiction between a cooler, rainier start and a hotter, stormier outlook illustrates how El Niño can produce highly variable weather within a single season, rather than a single, consistent trend.

Experts note that such variability makes it difficult to predict exact dates for extreme events, though the overall seasonal outlook suggests that Centro-Sul residents, and São Paulo in particular, should prepare for a more turbulent and unpredictable spring than in previous years.

While no official dates have been released for when the anticipated heatwaves or the heaviest storms will strike, authorities have signalled that the influence of this year's unusually strong El Niño pattern will likely shape weather conditions well beyond the season's opening days.