Each storm transforms São Paulo into a scenario of chaos, affecting its 12 million inhabitants with:
- Flooding and massive power outages.
- Fallen trees and kilometer-long traffic jams.
What was once a model city in infrastructure is now seriously affected by extreme weather events.
The change in storm patterns
São Paulo was famous for its garoa, a light drizzle that inspired songs like Sampa by Caetano Veloso.
However, scientific studies indicate that the combination of:
- Global warming.
- Hyperurbanization.
- High humidity in the region.
Has led to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds, responsible for the violent storms now hitting the city, especially between December and March.
Extreme rains and historical records
The last 20 years have seen 10 extreme downpours, more than double the number in the previous two decades, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet).
The summer of 2025 left:
- Six dead, twice as many as the previous year.
- Over 2,000 fallen trees.
- A traffic record, with 1,174 kilometers of traffic jams in a single rainy day.
Companies have also experienced operational interruptions and supply chain issues.
Adaptation and mitigation efforts
Faced with this climate crisis, authorities have implemented measures such as:
- Text message alert system, with 14 severe warnings since December.
- Expansion of green coverage, which increased from 15% to 26% between 2021 and 2024, to reduce heat islands.
- Reforms in urban drainage, although vulnerable areas remain at risk.
In neighborhoods like Jardim Pantanal, located next to the Tietê River, residents are still awaiting solutions after the devastating floods in February.
São Paulo faces a new climatic reality, demanding urgent actions to ensure the city’s resilience and the safety of its inhabitants.
*With information from AFP
