Snow in Brazil
Encyclopedia
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
occurs in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
occasionally, but virtually every year in some cities of the high plains
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
of the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
and Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
, that account for approximately 23000 km² (8,880.3 sq mi), and where there are the coldest cities in the country, where snow can happen when polar air masses reach the region: São Joaquim
São Joaquim
São Joaquim is a municipality in the state of Santa Catarina, situated in southern Brazil. It is located at latitude 28 ° 17 '38 "south and longitude 49 ° 55' 54" West, with an altitude of 1353 meters. Its population in 2004 was 23,114 inhabitants. Located in the Planalto Serrano, is located...
, Urubici
Urubici
Urubici is a southern Brazilian city located in the state of Santa Catarina.-Neighboring Cities:Some of the nearest cities are São Joaquim-60 km , Lages, Tubarão, and Criciúma.-Climate:...
, Urupema
Urupema
Urupema is a town and municipality in the state of Santa Catarina in the South region of Brazil. It has an area of approximately 353 km².The city is one of the coldest in Brazil and sometimes there is chance of snow.-References:...
and São José dos Ausentes
São José dos Ausentes
São José dos Ausentes is a municipality with an average altitude of 1200 meters, in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Its population was approximately 3300 in 2010. It has an area of approximately 1176 km²...
, among other cities bordering those, such as Bom Jesus
Bom Jesus, Rio Grande do Sul
Bom Jesus is a municipality in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Its population was approximately 11550 in 2010.The city is one of the coldest in Brazil and sometimes there is chance of snow.-References:...
, Bom Jardim da Serra
Bom Jardim da Serra
Bom Jardim da Serra is a town and municipality in the state of Santa Catarina in the South region of Brazil. It has an area of approximately 935 km².The city is one of the coldest in Brazil and sometimes there is chance of snow....
and Cambará do Sul
Cambará do Sul
Cambará do Sul is a municipality in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Its population was approximately 6500 in 2010. It has an area of approximately 1212 km².The city is one of the coldest in Brazil and sometimes there is chance of snow.-See also:...
.
In 20 July 1957, the greatest snowfall ever recorded in Brazil happened in São Joaquim, with more than 1 meter of accumulated snow.
Besides these two states, there are also snow precipitation in Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
, and more rare in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
(last time at Itatiaia
Itatiaia
Itatiaia is a Brazilian municipality of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is located at an altitude of 390 meters. Its population was 30,168 and its area is 224.96 km²....
in 1985), then making four states already had snow precipitation reported in the country.
The state of São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
has witnessed a phenomenon very similar to the precipitation of snow, the sublimation fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
on the June 26 of 1918. At the time, the network of water froze in the capital city (São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
). Also in Guarulhos
Guarulhos
Guarulhos is the second largest city in the Brazilian state of São Paulo and a suburb of São Paulo city itself. In the last few years it has outgrown Campinas. The population in 2006 is 1,283,253, the density is 4,035.26 inh./km² and the area is 318 km²...
during 2010, a strong rain hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
in the city formed a scenario similar to a snowfall, on account of ice
Ice
Ice is water frozen into the solid state. Usually ice is the phase known as ice Ih, which is the most abundant of the varying solid phases on the Earth's surface. It can appear transparent or opaque bluish-white color, depending on the presence of impurities or air inclusions...
that has accumulated on the streets, in homes and cars.
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
and Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo is one of the states of southeastern Brazil, often referred to by the abbreviation "ES". Its capital is Vitória and the largest city is Vila Velha. The name of the state means literally "holy spirit" after the Holy Ghost of Christianity...
has also been reports of snowflakes coming of frost
Frost
Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air as well as below the freezing point of water. Frost crystals' size differ depending on time and water vapour available. Frost is also usually...
s, mainly in Pico da Bandeira
Pico da Bandeira
Pico da Bandeira is the third highest mountain in Brazil, situated near the border of Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais. It is the highest point in both states as well. It was historically considered the highest mountain in Brazil until the 1950s, when the Pico da Neblina was explored and measured...
, despite other states have frost
Frost
Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air as well as below the freezing point of water. Frost crystals' size differ depending on time and water vapour available. Frost is also usually...
s without formation of snowflake layers, and many other states have had hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
stones.
The phenomenon in Brazil, occurs mainly during the months of June, July and August. And in this period, São Joaquim
São Joaquim
São Joaquim is a municipality in the state of Santa Catarina, situated in southern Brazil. It is located at latitude 28 ° 17 '38 "south and longitude 49 ° 55' 54" West, with an altitude of 1353 meters. Its population in 2004 was 23,114 inhabitants. Located in the Planalto Serrano, is located...
receives an average of 13,000 visitors from other parts of Brazil.
Average altitude
| City | State | Altitude (m) |
|---|---|---|
| São Joaquim São Joaquim São Joaquim is a municipality in the state of Santa Catarina, situated in southern Brazil. It is located at latitude 28 ° 17 '38 "south and longitude 49 ° 55' 54" West, with an altitude of 1353 meters. Its population in 2004 was 23,114 inhabitants. Located in the Planalto Serrano, is located... |
SC | 1360 |
| Urupema Urupema Urupema is a town and municipality in the state of Santa Catarina in the South region of Brazil. It has an area of approximately 353 km².The city is one of the coldest in Brazil and sometimes there is chance of snow.-References:... |
SC | 1335 |
| Bom Jardim da Serra Bom Jardim da Serra Bom Jardim da Serra is a town and municipality in the state of Santa Catarina in the South region of Brazil. It has an area of approximately 935 km².The city is one of the coldest in Brazil and sometimes there is chance of snow.... |
SC | 1245 |
| São José dos Ausentes São José dos Ausentes São José dos Ausentes is a municipality with an average altitude of 1200 meters, in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Its population was approximately 3300 in 2010. It has an area of approximately 1176 km²... |
RS | 1200 |
| Bom Jesus Bom Jesus -Brazil:* Bom Jesus, a district in Pirenópolis* Bom Jesus, Paraíba, a city in Paraíba* Bom Jesus, Piauí, a city in Piauí* Bom Jesus, Rio Grande do Norte, a city in Rio Grande do Norte* Bom Jesus, Rio Grande do Sul, a city in Rio Grande do Sul... |
RS | 1046 |
| Cambará do Sul Cambará do Sul Cambará do Sul is a municipality in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Its population was approximately 6500 in 2010. It has an area of approximately 1212 km².The city is one of the coldest in Brazil and sometimes there is chance of snow.-See also:... |
RS | 1031 |
| Vacaria Vacaria Vacaria is a Brazilian city in the northeast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is located at a latitude of 28° 30' 44" South and a longitude of 50° 56' 02" west, with an altitude of 971 meters. Its population in 2010 was estimated to be 61,345 inhabitants. The total area of the city is... |
RS | 971 |
| Urubici Urubici Urubici is a southern Brazilian city located in the state of Santa Catarina.-Neighboring Cities:Some of the nearest cities are São Joaquim-60 km , Lages, Tubarão, and Criciúma.-Climate:... |
SC | 915 |
See also
- Climate of BrazilClimate of BrazilThe climate of Brazil varies considerably mostly from tropical North to temperate zones below the Tropic of Capricorn , which crosses the country at the latitude of the city of São Paulo...
- Morro da IgrejaMorro da IgrejaMorro da Igreja is a peak situated in Urubici, a municipality of the Santa Catarina state, in southern Brazil. Its latitude is 28º07'31" S and its longitude is 49º29'38" W, with an elevation of 1,822 metres , the highest inhabited point and the second most elevated of this state...
- Lapse rateLapse rateThe lapse rate is defined as the rate of decrease with height for an atmospheric variable. The variable involved is temperature unless specified otherwise. The terminology arises from the word lapse in the sense of a decrease or decline; thus, the lapse rate is the rate of decrease with height and...
- About the rate of decrease of temperature with altitude.
External links
- SkyscraperCity - Snow 2010 South Brazil
- Report about the snow in Rio Grande do Sul, with historical data.
- Acúmulo de neve em cidades de Santa Catarina chegou a 25 centímetros, diz meteorologista (Report of 2010-08-05 from O GloboO GloboO Globo is a Brazilian newspaper based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. O Globo is the most prominent print publication in the Marinho family's Brazilian media conglomerate....
, in PortuguesePortuguese languagePortuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
).